Brain Metastasis of Esophageal Carcinoma: A Case Report

Kim, Young Wook; Lee, Jung Kil; Kim, Hyun Woo; Kim, Tae Sun; Kim, Jae Hyoo; Kim, Soo Han; Kang, Sam Suk; Lee, Je Hyuk; Lee, Min Cheol

Abstract

Metastasis to the brain from esophageal carcinoma is very rare. As a result of the evolution of esophageal cancer surgery, the overall median survival has been prolonged and the chance to encounter a brain metastasis has been increased. A case of a 68-year-old man who suffered from right hemiparesis and speech disturbance 13 months after the surgery for esophageal carcinoma is presented. Solitary metastatic brain tumor was removed successfully from the left temporal lobe and followed by postoperative whole-brain irradiation. Improvement in the patient's neurological function was noted immediately. He was discharged 4 weeks after operation with normal neurological status. In case of solitary brain metastasis, surgical resection is to be highly recommended only exception being the case with high surgical risk, and it is also beneficial in the brain metastasis following successful resection of esophageal cancer. lthough the route of brain metastasis of esophageal carcinoma has not proven yet, the vertebral venous system which was proposed by Batson in 1940 may be the most likely the possible pathway.