Duodenal choriocarcinoma, either primary or metastatic, is very rare. Early diagnosis and prompt initiation of chemotherapy improve the prognosis of this neoplasm. We herein present, together with the referred literatures, a case of a 47-year-old female patient who visited to our hospital with upper intestinal bleeding. She was diagnosed as duodenal choriocarcinoma by operation. Brain metastasis was found soon after the operation and combination chemotherapy was done.
Brain Neoplasms/*secondary ; Choriocarcinoma/*diagnosis/secondary ; Duodenal Neoplasms/*diagnosis/pathology ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage/*diagnosis ; Humans ; Middle Aged

OBJECTIVETo study the clinical characteristics and MR imaging features of intracranial metastasis from malignant tumors.

METHODS1271 patients who had history of primary tumor and suspected of cranial metastasis had MRI on Philips Gyroscan T5-NT MR scanner. The sequences included pre-contrast T(1)WI, FLAIR, and postcontrast transversal, sagittal, and coronal T(1)WI. All of the clinical data and MRI features of the patients were recorded and analyzed.

RESULTSOf 547 patients with intracranial metastasis, 393 came from lung cancer (71.9%), 10% of 547 patients were found to have the presenting symptoms of cranial metastasis. 526 had parenchymal cerebral metastasis, and 21 only meningeal metastasis. Of these 526 patients found to have brain metastasis, 164 had single metastasis (31.2%), and 362 multiple (68.8%). Most of the cerebral metastatic lesions showed uniform or ring enhancement after intravenous injection of contrast medium, dura-arachnoid metastasis showed continuous and thick-curve enhancement at the cerebral convex, but not extending to the sulcus, while pia-dura metastasis displayed as thin and linear or nodular enhancement extending to the adjacent sulci.

CONCLUSIONThe most common primary lesion with metastasis to the brain were lung cancers, followed by breast and gastrointestinal cancers. By using gadolinium-DTPA enhanced MR imaging, many single and small cerebral metastasis could be found earlier.

Adult ; Aged ; Brain Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; secondary ; Breast Neoplasms ; pathology ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Neoplasms ; pathology ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; pathology ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Meningeal Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; secondary ; Middle Aged

OBJECTIVETo report the MRI features of intracranial metastases of lung cancer.

METHODSA total of 858 patients with history of primary lung cancer suspicious of brain metastases was retrospectively reviewed with MRI.

RESULTS1. Of the 858 patients, 393 (45.8%) had brain metastases on MRI. The primary tumor was lung adenocarcinoma in 117 (29.8%), small cell lung cancer in 110 (28.0%), squamous cell cancer in 52 (13.2%), adenosquamous cancer in 16 (4.1%), large cell carcinoma in 2 (0.5%) and carcinoid in 1 (0.3%). The histopathological types of the primary tumor were unknown in 95 (24.2%). 2. Meningeal metastasis was found in 19 patients with lung cancer. The primary tumor was of adenocarcinoma lung in 6, small cell lung cancer in 5, squamous cell carcinoma in 4 and the remaining 4 were of unknown histopathological type. 3. Edema around the lesion: in 120 cases, there was no obvious edema; the edema was slight in 98 cases, moderate in 70, serious in 86.

CONCLUSIONThe brain metastasis of lung cancer is of common occurrence. MRI with enhancement is very helpful in the establishment of diagnosis.

Adenocarcinoma ; diagnosis ; secondary ; Adult ; Aged ; Brain Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; secondary ; Carcinoma, Small Cell ; diagnosis ; secondary ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; diagnosis ; secondary ; Female ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; pathology ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; methods ; Male ; Meningeal Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; secondary ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies

Aged ; Brain Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Central Nervous System Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Fatal Outcome ; Female ; Humans ; Lymphoma ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Meningeal Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; secondary

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the value of (18)F-FDG and (11)C-MET PET-CT scan in differentiation of brain ringlike-enhanced lesions on MRI imaging.

METHODSForty-one brain ringlike-enhanced lesions on MRI imaging including 30 brain tumors and 11 non-neoplastic lesions confirmed pathologically or clinically underwent (18)F-FDG and (11)C-MET PET-CT brain scan. Among them, 15 patients who were suspected to have brain metastasis received body scan by (18)F-FDG PET-CT. Both images were analyzed visually and semi-quantitatively.

RESULTSVisual analysis: for brain tumors the diagnostic sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of (18)F-FDG PET-CT was 53.3%, 72.7%, 58.5%, versus 96.7%, 90.9%, 95.1% of (11)C-MET PET-CT, respectively. All the primary foci in 9 patients with brain metastases were detected by body (18)F-FDG PET-CT scan. Semiquantitative analysis: There was a significant difference in the uptake between highly differentiated malignant and poorly differentiated tumors as well as non-neoplastic lesions for both tracers (P < 0.01), while between low-grade malignant tumors and non-neoplasm lesions, there was a difference in uptake only by (11)C-MET (P < 0.01). No significant difference between the uptakes in brain metastasis and glioblastomas was found by both tracers (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONBoth (18)F-FDG and (11)C-MET PET-CT are useful in differentiation of brain ringlike-enhanced lesions on MRI imaging. (11)C-MET PET-CT is more helpful than (18)F-FDG PET-CT in differential diagnosis of low-grade neoplastic from non-neoplastic lesions. Combination of (18)F-FDG and (11)C-MET PET-CT scans can improve the accuracy of differential diagnosis for brain ringlike-enhanced lesions on MRI imaging.

Acetates ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Brain Abscess ; diagnosis ; Brain Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; pathology ; secondary ; Carbon ; Carbon Radioisotopes ; Child ; Craniopharyngioma ; diagnosis ; pathology ; secondary ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Fluorodeoxyglucose F18 ; Glioblastoma ; diagnosis ; pathology ; secondary ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pituitary Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; pathology ; secondary ; Positron-Emission Tomography ; methods ; Radiopharmaceuticals ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Young Adult

Metastasis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) to the dura, an extremely rare condition, can be symptomatically silent and mistaken for a benign entity radiographically. Missed diagnosis can lead to serious consequences or prove immediately fatal. We report a woman with dural metastasis of NPC that mimicked a meningioma on radiography. Craniectomy with tumour resection was performed due to rapid progression from the onset of symptoms to disability. The patient was still alive two years after surgery. This case emphasises the need to keep in mind the possibility of dural metastasis of NPC in patients with abnormal imaging features. This would not only avoid wrong and optimistic diagnosis, but also allow for appropriate treatment in a timely manner. To our knowledge, this is the first report of metastasis of NPC to the dura. We provide detailed information on the neoplastic lesion, which masqueraded as a benign entity and caused potentially fatal consequences.
Adult ; Brain Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; secondary ; surgery ; Carcinoma ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Disease Progression ; Dura Mater ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Meningioma ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Neoplasm Metastasis

OBJECTIVETo analyze the clinical characteristics and survival depending on biological subtypes in breast cancer patients with brain metastases (BM).

METHODSA retrospective analysis was performed on 152 breast cancer patients with BM admitted to the Cancer Institute & Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences from January 2003 to December 2012. Depending on the biological characteristics, these patients were divided into three subtypes: Luminal, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER-2)-overexpressing, and triple-negative subtypes. The clinicopathological characteristics, recurrence status, and prognostic factors were analyzed at the initial diagnosis. The systemic therapy after BM was further studied.

RESULTSAmong the 152 patients, the number of Luminal, HER-2-overexpressing, and triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) subtypes were 60, 53, and 39 cases, respectively. The median time from first recurrence to BM of all patients was 7.3 months, the median time of Luminal, HER-2-overexpressing, and TNBC subtypes was 11.0 months, 9.6 months, and 5.5 months, respectively (P < 0.001). Compared with the TNBC subtype, BM occurred later in the HER-2-overexpressing subtype (P < 0.001). In the HER-2-overexpressing subtype, trastuzumab could delay the occurrence of BM in advanced breast cancer patients (17.1 vs. 1.7 months, P < 0.001, 95%CI 5.21-13.98). The median time of overall survival (OS) in the whole group was 56.5 months (7.5-240.2 months, 95%CI 52.6-60.4). The median survival time of Luminal, HER-2-overexpressing and TNBC subtypes was 70.9 months, 53.9 months, and 40.9 months, respectively (P = 0.013). The median survival time of after BM was 11.5 months in the whole group, and the median survival time of Luminal, HER-2-overexpressing and TNBC subtypes was 11.2 months, 12.7 months, and 11.6 months, respectively, with a difference of no statistical significance. Compared with non-BM as the first site, the patients with BM as the first site had a longer survival (14.8 months vs. 8.0 months, P = 0.001). Systemic therapy could prolong the survival after BM. The median survival of chemotherapy, chemotherapy in combination with trastuzumab, and without systemic therapy was 13.6 months, 19.0 months, and 6.5 months, respectively (P = 0.043).

CONCLUSIONSThe survival after BM is influenced by biological subtypes. Compared with the Luminal subtype, brain meatastases occurr earlier in HER-2-overexpressing and TNBC subtypes. Trastuzumab can delay the occurrence of BM from advanced breast cancer, and systemic therapy can improve the survival of patients after brain metastasis.

Brain ; Brain Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; secondary ; Breast Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; diagnosis ; Prognosis ; Receptor, ErbB-2 ; Receptors, Estrogen ; Receptors, Progesterone ; Retrospective Studies

OBJECTIVETo summarize the clinical characteristics, treatment, and prognosis of brain metastasis in patients with epithelial ovarian carcinoma.

METHODSRetrospective analysis was conducted in 7 cases of brain metastases of epithelial ovarian carcinoma from January 1986 to March 2007 in Peking Union Medical College Hospital for summarizing therapy results and prognosis-affecting factors.

RESULTSIncidence of brain metastases of epithelial ovarian carcinoma was about 0.66% (7/1055). Serous adenocarcinoma was the predominant pathological type in 4 cases and the subsequent was adenocarcinoma in 3 cases. All the patients were diagnosed at late stage, 6 cases with the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stage IIIc and 1 with FIGO stage IV. The mean duration from diagnosis of ovarian carcinoma to brain metastasis was 32.7 +/- 20.0 months (range, 23-73 months). Single metastasis focus occurred in 43% of cases and multiple metastases in 57% of cases. Fifty-seven percent of patients presented extracranial metastasis. Serum CA125 played a role in monitoring reoccurrence and brain metastases. The average survival time was about 12 months. Better treatment with prolonged survival could be achieved by combination of operation and chemotherapy or combination of radiotherapy with chemotherapy.

CONCLUSIONSAs a rare condition, brain metastasis of epithelial ovarian carcinoma is rising in incidence with improved treatment of ovarian carcinoma and prolonged survival. However, brain metastasis indicates bad prognosis which can be improved by combined therapy.

Adult ; Aged ; Brain Neoplasms ; secondary ; therapy ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasms, Glandular and Epithelial ; diagnosis ; pathology ; therapy ; Ovarian Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; pathology ; therapy ; Prognosis

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the value of whole-body diffusion weighted imaging (WB-DWI) on detection of malignant metastasis.

METHODSForty-six patients with malignant tumors underwent WB-DWI examinations between April 2007 and August 2007 in our hospital. Before WB-DWI examination, the primary cancers of all the patients were confirmed by pathology, and the TNM-stage was assessed with conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or computed tomography (CT). WB-DWI was performed using short TI inversion recovery echo-planar imaging (STIR-EPI) sequence. Abnormal high signal intensities on WB-DWI were considered as metastases. The results of WB-DWI were compared with other imaging modalities. For the assessment of the diagnostic capability of WB-DWI, WB-DWI were compared with CT for demonstrating mediastinal lymph node metastases and lung metastases, and with conventional MRI for demonstrating metastases in other locations.

RESULTSWB-DWI demonstrated 143 focuses, 14 of which were diagnosed to be benign lesions in routine imaging. The number of bone metastases depicted on WB-DWI and routine imaging was 85 and 86; lymph node metastases was 17 and 18; liver metastases was 14 and 14; lung metastases was 4 and 8; and brain metastases was 6 and 8, respectively. WB-DWI failed to detect 12 metastatic lesions including 3 osteoplastic bone metastases, 4 lung metastases, 3 mediastinal lymph node metastases, and 2 brain metastases. Four metastatic lesions including 2 deltopectoral lymph nodes and 2 rib metastases were detected with WB-DWI alone, all of which evolved greatly during clinical follow-up for more than 6 months. WB-DWI had higher detection rates for metastatic lesions in liver, bone, and lymph nodes than those in lung and brain (chi2=30, P<0.001).

CONCLUSIONSWB-DWI could detect most of metastatic lesions that were diagnosed with conventional MRI and CT. The limitations of WB-DWI might be had high false-positive rate and low efficiency in detecting mediastinal lymph node, brain, and lung metastases.

Aged ; Bone Neoplasms ; secondary ; Brain Neoplasms ; secondary ; Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted ; methods ; Liver Neoplasms ; secondary ; Lung Neoplasms ; secondary ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Whole Body Imaging ; methods

OBJECTIVETo investigate the correlation between TCM syndrome type and intracranial aggressive potentiality of untreated nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC).

METHODSSixty untreated NPC patients of different syndrome types were treated conventionally and followed up for over one year. Correlation between the TCM syndrome type differentiated at the first consultation and the intracranial aggressive potentiality of the primary focus of NPC were analyzed.

RESULTSThe incidence of intracranial aggression was significantly higher in patients with Qi-Yin deficiency type than that in those with other two syndrome types during the follow-up period (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe intracranial aggessive rate in the untreated NPC patients of Qi-Yin deficiency type was higher than in those of either Qi and blood coagulation type or fire-toxin stagnation type.

Adult ; Brain Neoplasms ; secondary ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Middle Aged ; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; pathology ; therapy ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; Syndrome