Analysis of Clinicopathological Characteristics of metastatic brain tumor – single center study

Abstract

In cancer patients, brain metastasis is a common complication. The metastasis of a solid tumour to the brain is generally associated with a poor prognosis as during the course of metastatic cancer, involvement of the brain occurs late. Brain metastasis from an undetected primary tumour (BMUP) appears to be a distinct clinical entity, which require careful determination of site of origin of primary. We reviewed patients with Metastasis brain tumor  and  analysed trends in clinicopathological changes present over one decade in a single institution.  Around 118 cases of  metastasis were identified out  of which 111 were of brain metastasis and 7 were isolated spinal cord metastasis. Out of 111 brain metastasis cases, 39 were cases with an unkown primary. The most frequent site of metastatic tumors was the frontal lobe.  The most frequent primary cancer was lung cancer, followed by breast cancer; these were the top two primary cancer types over the one decade. Immunohistochemistry with CK-7, CK-20 and thyroid transcription factor (TTF-1), ER and PR as a primary panel in metastatic tumors is highly recommended. Histomorphology and immunohistochemistry aid in the accurate diagnosis of the original site of malignancy.