Is endometrial cancer really a neurophobic tumor? A case report and review of the literature

Anticancer Res. 2014 Jan;34(1):249-57.

Abstract

Brain metastases due to endometrial cancer are rare and usually occur in the context of widespread disease. We present a rare case of a 74-year-old woman with recurrent endometrial cancer in terms of a solitary brain lesion two years after initial diagnosis. She was treated with local resection of the brain metastasis and subsequent whole-brain radiotherapy. She then experienced relapse twice, presenting two solitary metastases at two different time points at the same location as at initial diagnosis, but never showed any signs of extracranial widespread disease. The patient has been alive for 13 months after detection of her initial brain metastasis. Despite the identification of some risk factors, there is still very limited knowledge why some patients develop brain metastases as the only sign of distant spread. Our review of the literature revealed that the combination of two treatment modalities yields higher survival rates than single treatment-alone, as was the case in the presented patient. Further case reports, as well as large and prospective studies, may contribute to a better understanding of the etiology and dynamics of this disease and allow better evaluation of treatment options.

Keywords: Endometrial cancer; brain metastasis; gynecological malignancies; neurophobic tumor.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Brain Neoplasms / diagnosis*
  • Brain Neoplasms / surgery
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Endometrial Neoplasms / diagnosis*
  • Endometrial Neoplasms / surgery
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / diagnosis*
  • Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / surgery
  • Neoplasm Staging
  • Prognosis