The role of neurosurgery in the treatment of cerebral metastases from choriocarcinoma: a report of two cases

Brain metastases: epidemiology

Brain metastases (BM) are the most commonly diagnosed type of central nervous system tumor in the United States. Estimates of the frequency of BM vary significantly, as there is no nationwide reporting system for metastases. BM may be the first sign of a previously undiagnosed cancer, or occur years or decades after the primary cancer was diagnosed. Incidence of BM varies significantly by primary cancer site. Lung, breast, and melanoma continue to be the leading cause of BM. These tumors are increasingly more common as new therapeutics, advanced imaging, and improved screening have led to lengthened survival after primary diagnosis for cancer patients. BM are difficult to treat, and for most individuals the diagnosis of BM generally portends a poor prognosis.

Pitfalls in Diagnosis and Management of Testicular Choriocarcinoma Metastatic to the Brain: Report of 2 Cases and Review of Literature

INTRODUCTION

Pure choriocarcinoma of the testes is a rare, aggressive germ cell tumor that can metastasize to the brain. Although its prognosis has improved with the development of cisplatin-based chemotherapy regimens, cerebral metastases are prone to hemorrhage and associated with high morbidity. Here, we present 2 cases of testicular choriocarcinoma with cerebral metastasis and discuss potential pitfalls in their diagnosis and management. We also review cases in the literature that feature these rare lesions.

METHODS

Medline was searched for all publications including the terms "testicular choriocarcinoma" and "cerebral metastasis" or "brain metastasis." Articles that included patients with tumors classified as a mix of choriocarcinoma and other germ cell tumor subtypes were excluded.

RESULTS

A total of 15 cases from the literature and our own 2 cases were included in the analysis. The mean age at presentation was 25.5 years. Neurologic symptoms accounted for the initial presentation of 9 patients (60%). Outcomes were predominantly poor, with 10 patients (67%) expiring shortly after their initial diagnosis. Three of these deaths were related to mass effect from metastasis-related hemorrhages. Two patients underwent emergent decompressive craniectomies, and both died from cerebral herniation.

CONCLUSION

The potentially catastrophic nature of choriocarcinoma-related cerebral hemorrhages underscores the need for prompt, accurate diagnosis and aggressive surgical management of these lesions. Their highly vascular nature and lack of findings on cerebral angiography may cause them to be confused with occult vascular malformations.

Recursive Partitioning Analysis of Prognostic Factors for Patients with Four or More Intracranial Metastases Treated with Radiosurgery

The purpose of this study was to devise a new recursive partitioning analysis (RPA) of patients with four or more intracranial metastases treated with a single radiosurgery procedure to identify a class of patients with extended survival. 205 patients underwent Gamma Knife radiosurgery for four or more intracranial metastases (median = 5, range 4–18) during one session. The median total treatment volume was 6.8 cc (range 0.6–51.0 cc). Radiosurgery was used as sole management (17% of patients), or in combination with WB-RT (46%), or after failure of WB-RT (38%). The median marginal radiosurgery dose was 16 Gy (range 12–20 Gy). RPA assessed the effects of age, Karnofsky >70, extracranial disease, visceral metastases, number of metastases, total treatment volume, history of breast and melanoma primaries on survival. The median overall survival after radiosurgery for all patients was 8 months. RPA identified a favorable subgroup of 78 patients (43% of the series) with a total treatment volume <7 cc and < 7 brain metastases (Class 1), with a median survival of 13 months. This subgroup's survival was significantly better (p <0.00005) than the remaining patients (Class 2) (n=111) with a median survival of 6 months. In conclusion, RPA of multiple brain metastasis patients identified 2 distinct cohorts of patients. Class 1 patients have a total treatment volume <7 cc and < 7 metastases (4–6) with favorable survival after Radiosurgery and Class 2 patients have a total treatment volume ≥ 7 cc and/or ≥ 7 metastases and have a significantly poorer survival.

Neurologic complications of cardiac tumors

Cardiac tumors are an uncommon cause for neurologic disease, but if undiagnosed can be associated with devastating neurologic consequences. Primary cardiac tumors, both benign and neoplastic, and metastatic tumors occur. Primary cardiac tumors are more likely to be associated with neurologic embolic complications. Metastatic cardiac tumors are more likely to be associated with valvular distraction, arrhythmia, diminished cardiac output and indirect neurological dysfunction. Primary and metastatic cardiac tumors may result in cerebral metastatic disease. Atrial myxoma, a benign primary cardiac tumor, is the most common cardiac tumor associated with neurologic disease, and most commonly causes cerebral embolization and stroke. The use of thrombolytic therapy for these strokes is controversial. Additionally, delayed manifestations, including aneurysm formation and intracranial hemorrhage, are possible. Aneurysm formation has been described as occurring after removal of the primary tumor. The availability of noninvasive cardiac imaging has significantly helped decrease the neurologic morbidity of cardiac tumors and has led to frequent successful intervention.

Outcomes of hospitalization in pregnant women with CNS neoplasms: a population-based study

Managing a CNS neoplasm during pregnancy presents complex challenges, and population-based studies are lacking. We designed a retrospective cohort study using the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) to investigate pregnancy outcomes in women with CNS neoplasms. We constructed a logistic regression model for maternal mortality, preterm labor, intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), and Caesarean delivery, controlling for age, comorbidities, and demographic characteristics. We identified 379 malignant brain tumors, 437 benign brain tumors, and 44 spine tumors among 19 million pregnancy-related admissions from 1988 through 2009. Malignant brain tumors were associated with maternal mortality (odds ratio [OR], 143), preterm labor (OR, 3.4), and IUGR (OR, 2.9). Benign brain tumors were associated with preterm labor (OR, 2.3). A diagnosis of hyperemesis gravidarum was more common in malignant (OR, 2.2) and benign (OR, 2.8) brain tumors. Compared with the general population, Caesarean delivery was more frequent for malignant (OR, 6.4) and benign (OR, 2.8) brain tumors and spine tumors (OR, 3.9). Admission without delivery was more common for malignant (OR, 8.6) and benign (OR, 4.3) brain tumors and spine tumors (OR, 3.8; P < .05 for all outcomes). Thirty-three percent of all hospitalizations involved neurosurgical procedures, but pregnancy complications were not significantly more likely to occur in surgical patients. In conclusion, malignant brain tumors were associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes, and CNS neoplasms were associated with higher rates of Caesarean delivery. Additional research is needed to improve understanding of obstetric risk in these patients and to assist with treatment, counseling, and monitoring during delivery.

Metastatic choriocarcinoma with multiple neoplastic intracranial microaneurysms

✓The authors report on a case of a metastatic choriocarcinoma that mimicked systemic necrotizing vasculitis on a cerebral angiogram. A 35-year-old woman presented with right hemiplegia and a drowsy mental state. A computed tomography (CT) scan revealed an intracerebral hemorrhage in the left frontal region. A cerebral angiogram showed multiple microaneurysms arising from the bilateral anterior cerebral arteries and middle cerebral arteries, and the renal angiogram showed multiple microaneurysms arising from the left distal renal artery. A chest CT scan revealed multiple metastatic lesions in the left lower lung field. The hematoma and microaneurysms were surgically removed. Choriocarcinoma was diagnosed after histological examination. Despite receiving postoperative chemotherapy, the patient died 1 month after the operation.

Stereotactic radiosurgery for four or more intracranial metastases

PURPOSE

To evaluate the outcomes after a single stereotactic radiosurgery procedure for the care of patients with 4 or more intracranial metastases.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

Two hundred five patients with primary malignancies, including non-small-cell lung carcinoma (42%), breast carcinoma (23%), melanoma (17%), renal cell carcinoma (6%), colon cancer (3%), and others (10%) underwent gamma knife radiosurgery for 4 or more intracranial metastases at one time. The median number of brain metastases was 5 (range, 4-18) with a median total treatment volume of 6.8 cc (range, 0.6-51.0 cc). Radiosurgery was used as sole management (17% of patients), or in combination with whole brain radiotherapy (46%) or after failure of whole brain radiotherapy (38%). The median marginal radiosurgery dose was 16 Gy (range, 12-20 Gy). The mean follow-up was 8 months.

RESULTS

The median overall survival after radiosurgery for all patients was 8 months. The 1-year local control rate was 71%, and the median time to progressive/new brain metastases was 9 months. Using the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group recursive partitioning analysis (RPA) classification system, the median overall survivals for RPA classes I, II, and III were 18, 9, and 3 months, respectively (p < 0.00001). Multivariate analysis revealed total treatment volume, age, RPA classification, and marginal dose as significant prognostic factors. The number of metastases was not statistically significant (p = 0.333).

CONCLUSION

Radiosurgery seems to provide survival benefit for patients with 4 or more intracranial metastases. Because total treatment volume was the most significant predictor of survival, the total volume of brain metastases, rather than the number of metastases, should be considered in identifying appropriate radiosurgery candidates.