Clinical Epidemiological Profile of Patients with Cerebral Metastasis

Resumo

Introdução: A metástase cerebral (MC) é a principal manifestação neurológica do câncer. Sítios primários mais prevalentes incluem: pulmão, mama e pele. Hemiparesia, afasia, distúrbio visual, crises convulsivas, cefaleia, náusea, vômito e anormalidade cognitiva fazem parte do quadro clínico. Exames de imagem associado à biópsia confirmam o diagnóstico. O tratamento pode ser paliativo ou cirúrgico e complementar com radioterapia e quimioterapia. Objetivo: Descrever as características clínicas e epidemiológicas da MC em pacientes oncológicos. Métodos: Realizou-se um estudo retrospectivo, descritivo e transversal de casos confirmados de MC internados no serviço de neurocirurgia do Hospital de Urgência de Sergipe (Aracaju-Se) durante o período de janeiro de 2011 a agosto de 2012. Resultados: Foram estudados 40 pacientes, sendo a média de idade 53,2 anos. A sexta década de vida foi a faixa etária mais acometida. Quanto ao gênero, 24 (60%) feminino e 16 (40%) masculino. O sítio primário mais prevalente da MC foi mama 37,5% dos casos, seguido de pulmão 30%. Os sintomas mais comuns foram cefaleia e distúrbio cognitivo, presentes em 30 (75%) casos. A tomografia computadoriza (TC) foi o método diagnóstico mais utilizado, 36 (90%) pacientes. O tratamento paliativo foi realizado em 25 (62,5%) pacientes, seguido de radioterapia 11 (27,5%), cirurgia 8 (20%) e quimioterapia 3 (7,5%) pacientes. Conclusão: A análise clínica e epidemiológica do paciente oncológico é de fundamental importância para o diagnóstico de MC.

Palavras-chave

Metástase neoplásica; Neoplasia encefálica; Epidemiologia; Manifestações neurológicas

Abstract

Introduction: Cerebral metastasis (CM) is the major neurological manifestation of cancer. Most prevalent primary sites include: lungs, breast and skin. Hemiparesis, aphasia, visual disturbances, seizures, headache, nausea, vomiting and cognitive abnormalities are part of the clinical manifestations. Imaging studies associated with biopsy confirms the diagnosis. The treatment may be palliative or surgical and complemented by radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Objective: To describe the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of CM in cancer patients. Methods: A retrospective, descriptive and cross-sectional study of confirmed cases of CM admitted to the neurosurgery service of the Emergency Hospital of Sergipe (Aracaju-Se) was conducted, from January 2011 to August 2012. Results: Forty patients with a mean age of 53.2 years were studied. The sixth decade of life was the most affected age group. Regarding gender, 24 (60%) were female and 16 (40%) male. The most prevalent primary site of CM was breast cancer (37.5%), followed by lung, 30%. The most common symptoms were headache and cognitive abnormalities both present in 30 (75%) cases. A computed tomography (CT) was the most used diagnostic method, 36 (90%) patients. Palliative treatment was carried out in 25 (62.5%) patients, followed by radiotherapy, 11 (27.5%), surgery, 8 (20%) and chemotherapy, 3 (7.5%) patients.

Keywords

The clinical and epidemiological analyses of cancer patients is extremely important for the diagnosis of CM.

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