Silent cerebral metastases in patients with neoplasm and status 2-3 of Karnofsky scale

Abstract:

This is a surveying study of 50 patients, 28 male and 22 female, who were with a previous diagnosis of cancer. We pretend to discover asymptomatic cerebral metastasis by CT scan studies, and establish a real tumoral extension. Patients neurologically asymptomatic and belonged to grade 2 or 3 of Karnofsky Scale were included. Patients were excluded if they had a previous neurologic disease. Two patients, one with breast cancer and one with lung cancer were positive for 'silent' cerebral metastasis which represented 4% of the population surveyed. We concluded that a CT scan must be included in the tumoral extension diagnostic approach on all patients with neoplasm and Karnofsky group 2 or 3, specially in these cases of breast cancer or lung cancer. Therefore the clinical and therapeutic procedures will be modified.

Año de publicación:

1995

Keywords:

• cerebral metastasis
• Computerized tomography

Fuente:

scopus