Brain metastases from ovarian cancer

Brain metastasis from ovarian carcinoma is a relatively rare phenomenon. At NYU Medical Center five patients were treated for this entity from 1982 to 1985. The stage at presentation ranged from stage I to stage III, and all patients had received or were receiving chemotherapy. Two patients had active disease elsewhere at diagnosis of brain metastasis, but three patients were otherwise NED. Three patients had solitary cerebellar disease, and two patients had multiple lesions. All patients were treated with whole brain radiotherapy to 3,000 cGy, with neurological improvement in three of the five patients. The central nervous system may need special consideration for prophylactic treatment in those patients with ovarian cancer who receive adjuvant chemotherapy.