Brain Metastases from Cervical Cancer – a Short Review

Abstract

Cervical carcinoma has been documented to metastasize to the brain, and this may occur via initial seeding of the lungs. Surgical resection and CNS screening may have beneficial roles in the management of metastatic cervical carcinoma.

Cervical cancer metastasis to the brain: A case report and review of literature

“…[ 6 ] This is supported by reports that the lungs are the most common area for metastatic cervical cancer; in addition, this pattern of spread is very typical in other types of systemic cancers, such as lung cancer, breast cancer, and melanoma. [ 6 21 ] However, there were some reported cases of patients with intracranial metastases from cervical cancer without lung metastases. We described a case of isolated solitary cervical cancer metastasis to the brain and reviewed the literature to characterize more clearly the clinical presentation, treatment, and prognosis of patients with this condition.…”

“…[ 2 3 ] Metastasis to brain has been postulated to occur after spread to the lungs. [ 6 ] This is supported by reports that the lungs are the most common area for metastatic cervical cancer; in addition, this pattern of spread is very typical in other types of systemic cancers, such as lung cancer, breast cancer, and melanoma. [ 6 21 ] However, there were some reported cases of patients with intracranial metastases from cervical cancer without lung metastases.…”

“…[ 16 ] Each year in the United States, approximately 12,000 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer with an estimated 4000 deaths. [ 6 ] Cervical cancer typically spreads locally via the lymphatic system to the pelvic and para-aortic lymph nodes; however, it can metastasize to more distant organs—commonly the lung, liver, bone, and supraclavicular lymph nodes—via the hematogenous pathway. [ 2 3 ] Some attribute circulatory patterns for the organ-specific spread, while certain tumor cells are thought to migrate based on attraction to certain surrounding environments—called the “seed and soil” hypothesis; distant spread of cancer is more recently thought of as a multistep process known as the “metastatic cascade.”[ 41 ] One study found a 5.3-fold greater risk of death for patients with hematogenous metastasis compared to those with lymphatic metastasis.…”

“…With only approximately 100 cases of reported intracranial metastases of cervical cancer in the literature, proper management of these patients remains unclear. [ 2 6 ] Presence of tumor cells in cerebral circulation does not necessarily lead to metastatic disease, it largely depends on the host's immune system, number of tumor emboli, tissue neovascularization, and characteristics of the tumor. [ 2 3 ] Metastasis to brain has been postulated to occur after spread to the lungs.…”

Metastasis Cerebral De Adenocarcinoma De Cervix

“…Según la literatura se describe que la ruta de diseminación de metástasis cerebral de cuello uterino se produce por vía hematógena, a través del sistema venoso vertebral 15,18 . Branch et al 25 postuló que el mecanismo de diseminación de las metástasis cerebrales se producen luego de su siembra hacia los pulmones esto coincide con la revisión de Fetcko et al 3 que menciona que los pulmones son el lugar más frecuente de metástasis de cérvix. Sin embargo, se conoce que la presencia de células tumorales en la circulación cerebral no necesariamente conlleva a una metástasis, este hecho depende del sistema inmune del paciente, el número de émbolos tumorales, la neovascularización tisular y las características del tumor 6,14 .…”