Abstract
BACKGROUND: Brain metastases from ovarian cancer are rare, but their incidence is increasing. The purpose of this study was to investigate the characteristics of brain metastases from ovarian cancer, and to assess the efficacy of treatment with gamma knife surgery (GKS). METHODS: A retrospective review was performed of patients with brain metastases from ovarian cancer who were treated at the Tokyo Gamma Unit Center from 2006 to 2010. RESULTS: Sixteen patients were identified. Their median age at diagnosis of brain metastases was 56.5 years, the median interval from diagnosis of ovarian cancer to brain metastases was 27.5 months, and the median number of brain metastases was 2. The median Karnofsky Performance Score (KPS) at the first GKS was 80. The median survival following diagnosis of brain metastases was 12.5 months, and 6-month and 1-year survival rates were 75 % and 50 %, respectively. The tumor control rate was 86.4 %. The KPS (<80 vs ≥80) and total volume of brain metastases (<10 cm(3) vs ≥10 cm(3)) were significantly associated with survival according to a univariate analysis (p = 0.004 and p = 0.02, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study suggest that GKS is an effective remedy and acceptable choice for the control of brain metastases from ovarian cancer.