Solitary cerebellar metastasis from bladder cancer

Pośród pacjentów z rakiem pęcherza moczowego przerzuty do mózgu są rzadko spotykane i dotyczą około 1–7% chorych z naciekającym rakiem pęcherza. W większości przypadków przerzuty mózgowe są wtórne do obecnych już przerzutów w narządach trzewnych i węzłach chłonnych. Pierwotna manifestacja raka przejściowokomórkowego (<i>transitional cell carcinoma</i> – TCC) jako pojedynczy przerzut móżdżkowy została opisana w pojedynczych artykułach. Mężczyzna 55-letni zgłosił się do szpitala z powodu uporczywych dolegliwości bólowych głowy z towarzyszącymi nudnościami. Objawom towarzyszyły zaburzenia równowagi. Tomografia komputerowa (TK) głowy wykazała obecność zmiany guzowatej o wymiarach 28 x 24 x 22 mm w górnej części robaka móżdżku. Badanie TK klatki piersiowej, jamy brzusznej i miednicy małej uwidoczniło zmianę guzowatą w obrębie pęcherza moczowego z poszerzeniem układu kielichowo-miedniczkowego nerki prawej. Nie stwierdzono powiększonych węzłów chłonnych ani cech innych przerzutów. Wykonano kraniotomię i zewnętrzny drenaż komór mózgu, usuwając guz. Pacjenta zakwalifikowano do przezcewkowej elektroresekcji zmiany guzowatej w obrębie pęcherza. Guz obejmował część trójkąta pęcherza moczowego wraz z ujściem prawego moczowodu i większą część prawej ściany pęcherza. Badania histopatologiczne i immunohistochemiczne obu tkanek guzowatych (móżdżku i pęcherza) potwierdziły obecność komórek raka przejściowokomórkowego o wysokim stopniu złośliwości (<i>high grade</i> – HG) z inwazją mięśniową w obrębie wypieracza pęcherza (T2, HG). Na tej podstawie u chorego rozpoznano naciekającego raka pęcherza z przerzutem do móżdżku. Pacjent nie wyraził zgody na cystektomię i został przekazany na oddział onkologii, gdzie zakwalifikowano go do radioterapii głowy i miednicy oraz następowej chemioterapii. W pracy opisano przypadek rozległego guza pęcherza moczowego T2, który rozwinął się bez typowych objawów urologicznych.

Contralateral sialadenitis after resection of a right cerebellar metastasis: illustrative case

BACKGROUND Acute postoperative sialadenitis is a rare and potentially morbid complication of cranial neurosurgery. This rapidly progressive, unilateral neck swelling often presents within hours of extubation. Diagnosis is made by imaging and exclusion of other causes of etiologies, such as neck hematoma, sialolithiasis, and dependent soft tissue edema. OBSERVATIONS The authors presented a case of acute postoperative sialadenitis after suboccipital resection of a right cerebellar metastasis. Shortly after extubation, extensive left-sided neck swelling was apparent in the postanesthesia care unit. No central lines were placed during the procedure. Imaging revealed submandibular gland edema and fluid accumulation in the surrounding tissue. The patient was managed conservatively with steroids, antibiotics, and warm compresses, with complete resolution of symptoms 2 weeks after the procedure. LESSONS This case emphasizes the broad differential of acute neck swelling after cranial surgery. Physical examination of the neck and airway protection should guide initial treatment. If a patient is stable, bedside ultrasound and computed tomography can be helpful with the differential diagnosis. Here the authors proposed an algorithm for diagnosis and treatment of acute neck swelling after cranial surgery.

Cerebellar metastasis of a Liposarcoma: Case report and literature review

Background: Liposarcoma (LPS) is a rare type of tumor; they come from the adipose tissue. It is the most common type of soft-tissue sarcoma. Every type of LPS has morphological features, immunophenotypic, and molecular pathogenesis characteristics of their own. In this case, we are going to report a cerebellar metastatic disease from a well-differentiated liposarcoma (WDL) with pleomorphic component, not found in our literature research. Case Description: A 72-year-old woman with progressive pain and inflammation in the left knee with functional limitation when climbing stairs. MRI shows a tumor in the vastus medialis of the left thigh. Pathology result was pleomorphic and WDL, Stage III and negative for MDM2 and CDK4. Extension study was carried out, finding nodular lesion in the right cerebellar hemisphere with mass effect and partial obliteration of the fourth ventricle, suspicious of distant disease. Conclusion: Cerebellar metastasis of LPS is uncommon; there are only a few cases reports with the literature reviews describing orbital or skull base metastases, but not in the cerebellum. Our case allows us to remember that neurological symptoms, no matter how subtle, in patients diagnosed with LPS, a secondary affectation of the central nervous system must be ruled out, even though it is a rare location. The findings of distant disease in LPSs, allow planning oncological treatment options and targeted radiotherapeutic.

Brain metastases from Truncal and extremity bone and soft tissue sarcoma: Single institution study of oncologic outcomes

Brain metastases are a rare occurrence in patients with sarcoma. The prognosis for patients is poor, and treatment can contribute to considerable morbidity. We sought to examine the experience of our institution in managing these patients over a period of 17 years. We performed a retrospective cohort study of patients managed for sarcoma of the extremity or trunk who developed brain metastases from 2000 to 2017. Clinical data were analyzed and we assessed survival outcomes. 14 patients presenting at a mean age of 46.7 years were included. All patients were treated with radiotherapy for their brain metastases. 3 patients underwent surgical excision of their intracranial metastases. Two patients were treated with radium-223 dichloride. Kaplan–Meier survival analysis and the log rank test were used to calculate the survival probability, and to compare patient subgroups. All patients in this study developed lung or bone metastases at a mean interval of 13.3 months prior to the development of brain metastasis. The median interval from diagnosis of a brain metastasis to death was 3.6 months. The Kaplan–Meier survival probability at 6 months was 28.6%, and 14.3% at 1 year. Surgery was not found to be associated with increased survival. Patients with cerebellar metastasis had increased survival probability as compared to those with cerebral metastasis. Patients with extremity or trunk sarcoma who develop brain metastases frequently develop lung or bone metastases in the year preceding their diagnosis of brain metastasis. Patients with cerebellar metastasis may have better survival than those with cerebral metastasis, and an aggressive treatment approach should be considered. Despite aggressive treatment, the prognosis is grim.