Epithelial ovarian carcinoma metastatic to the central nervous system: a report on two cases with review of literature

Abstract

Metastasis to the central nervous system (CNS) from ovarian malignancy is rare. We describe two such patients who developed CNS metastasis in the form of multiple deposits in brain parenchyma after an interval of 27 and 16 months from the diagnosis of ovarian carcinoma. Both patients received cranial radiotherapy but survived only 2 weeks and 5 months, respectively. Data on 99 patients collected from the literature (Medline, National Library of Medicine, Bethesda, MD) are reviewed and an attempt is made to suggest therapeutic guidelines depending on the extent of the intracranial and extracranial disease and performance status of the patients.