Objective: To detect the rate of occurrence, the relevant factors, the diagnosis and treatment of cerebral metastases in patients with epithelial ovarian carcinoma.
Methods: The clinical data were analyzed in 4 cases of cerebral metastases from 132 cases of epithelial ovarian carcinoma after treatment between 1989-1997.
Results: The rate of cerebral metastases was 3%. The related factors were advanced stage, and tumor cells differentiation, but no related with the histologic type. More cases of cerebral metastasis were found because of the prolonged survival after cytoreductive surgery and systemic chemotherapy as well as the extraabdominal metastasis.
Conclusions: Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging were the important diagnostic methods. Combined treatments including surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy can improve the patients status and prolong their lives.