Epidemiological Analysis of Cancer Patients Diagnosed With Cranial Metastasis at Initial Presentation

Ercan Kaya

doi:10.55489/njcm.151020244659

Authors

Ercan Kaya Kartal Dr. Lutfi Kirdar Education and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.55489/njcm.151020244659

Keywords:

Brain Tumors, Brain Metastasis, Unknown Primary Malignancy

Abstract

Introduction: Metastatic lesions are the most common brain tumors, comprising 52% of all cases. Early diagnosis is crucial to improve patient outcomes, but many cases remain undiagnosed until advanced stages. This study aimed to investigate the characteristics of patients diagnosed with brain metastasis concurrently with their primary malignancy, examine prognostic factors, and compare these findings with brain metastases of known primary origins.

Method: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 184 patients between 18-80 years diagnosed with brain tumors between January 2018 and January 2019. Patient data were collected from clinical records, and statistical analyses were performed using SPSS 26.0.

Results: Out of the total patients, 43% were diagnosed brain metastases. Among these, 33% had no known primary malignancy at diagnosis. In this group, 92.3% were over 50 years old, and 77% were male. The most frequent primary cancer was lung cancer (81%). Males had an average time to metastasis diagnosis approximately twice as long as females. A higher incidence of metastasis correlated with a lower Karnofsky Performance Score, indicating reduced operability and quality of life.

Conclusion: Early diagnosis is critical to improving outcomes. Routine cranial imaging for patients over 50 may aid in early intervention.

References

Gaspar L, Scott C, Rotman M, et al. Recursive partitioning analysis (RPA) of prognostic factors in three Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) brain metastases trials. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 1997;37(4):745-51. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0360-3016(96)00619-0

Lang FF, Wildrick DM, Sawaya R. Management of cerebral metastases: the role of surgery. J Moffitt Cancer Cent. 1998 Mar;5(2):124-9. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1177/107327489800500203

Youmans JR, Winn HR. Youmans neurological surgery. Vol. 2. Philadelphia: Elsevier/Saunders; 2011. p. 3342-61.

Lippitz B, Lindquist C, Paddick I, et al. Stereotactic radiosurgery in the treatment of brain metastases: the current evidence. Cancer Treat Rev. 2014;40(1):48-59. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ctrv.2013.05.002

Matsuo T, Shibata S, Yasunaga A, et al. Dose optimization and indication of linac radiosurgery for brain metastases. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 1999;44(5):1069-73. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0360-3016(99)00271-0

Wowra B, Muacevic A, Tonn JC. Quality of radiosurgery for single brain metastases with respect to treatment technology: a matched-pair analysis. J Neurooncol. 2009;94(1):69-77. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11060-009-9802-y

Wang ZZ, Yuan ZY, Zhang WC, et al. Brain metastasis treated with Cyberknife. Chin Med J (Engl). 2009 Aug 20;122(16):1847-50.

Murai T, Ogino H, Manabe Y, et al. Fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy using CyberKnife for the treatment of large brain metastases: a dose escalation study. Clin Oncol (R Coll Radiol). 2014;26(3):151-8. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clon.2013.11.027

Brem S, Panattil JG. An era of rapid advancement: diagnosis and treatment of metastatic brain cancer. Neurosurgery. 2005;57(5 Suppl)-S10. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1093/neurosurgery/57.suppl_5.S4-5

Young RJ, Sills AK, Brem S, et al. Neuroimaging of metastatic brain disease. Neurosurgery. 2005;57(5 Suppl)-S16. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1227/01.NEU.0000182774.54193.37

Lagerwaard FJ, Levendag PC, Nowak PJ, et al. Identification of prognostic factors in patients with brain metastases: a review of 1292 patients. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 1999;43(4):795-803. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0360-3016(98)00442-8

Barnholtz-Sloan JS, Sloan AE, Davis FG, et al. Incidence proportions of brain metastases in patients in the Metropolitan Detroit Cancer Surveillance System. J Clin Oncol. 2004;22(14):2865-72. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1200/JCO.2004.12.149

Ziyal İM, Müslüman M, Türkmen CS, et al. The metastatic brain tumors. Med Bull Sisli Etfal Hosp. 1997;31(3):43-8.