Table 1.
Clinical characteristics of 33 patients with brain metastases from HCC
| Characteristic | No. of patients (%) |
|---|---|
|
HCC characteristics |
|
| Age in years at diagnosis of brain metastasis; median (range) |
62 (23-80yrs) |
| Sex |
|
| Male |
30 (91%) |
| Female |
3 (9%) |
| Time in months from diagnosis of HCC to brain metastases; median (range) |
18.3 (0.5-75mos) |
| ECOG performance status |
|
| ≤2 |
21 (64%) |
| ≥3 |
12 (36%) |
| RPA class I |
2 (6%) |
| II |
27 (82%) |
| III |
4 (12%) |
| Child-Pugh classification |
|
| A |
20 (61%) |
| B |
11 (33%) |
| C |
2 (6%) |
| AFP (ng/ml) |
|
| ≤400 |
18 (55%) |
| >400 |
10 (30%) |
| unknown |
5 (15%) |
| Etiology |
|
| Hepatitis B |
25 (76%) |
| Hepatitis C |
3 (9%) |
| Alcoholic |
4 (12%) |
| Idiopathic |
1 (3%) |
| Number of tumor nodules |
|
| 1 |
3 (9%) |
| 2-3 |
5 (15%) |
| ≥4 |
25 (76%) |
| Largest tumor size (cm) |
|
| <2 |
4 (12%) |
| 2-5 |
14 (43%) |
| 6-10 |
12 (36%) |
| >10 |
3 (9%) |
| Tumor type |
|
| Well-defined |
20 (61%) |
| Ill-defined |
13 (39%) |
| Main portal vein thrombosis |
|
| Absent |
18 (55%) |
| Present |
15 (45%) |
| Previous treatment |
|
| Hepatic resection |
5 (15%) |
| TACE |
27 (82%) |
| RFA |
4 (12%) |
| Chemotherapy (Sorafenib) |
10 (30%) |
| Radiotherapy |
10 (30%) |
| Site of extracranial metastases |
|
| Lung |
24 (73%) |
| Bone |
6 (18%) |
| Lymph node |
8 (24%) |
| Adrenal gland |
2 (6%) |
| Skin |
1 (3%) |
| None |
6 (18%) |
|
Brain metastasis characteristics |
|
| Symptoms/signs |
|
| Headache |
18 (55%) |
| Motor disturbance |
12 (36%) |
| Mental status changes |
8 (24%) |
| Visual disturbance |
5 (15%) |
| Dizziness |
4 (12%) |
| Non-neurologic symptom |
1 (3%) |
| Number of lesions |
|
| Single |
17 (52%) |
| Multiple |
16 (48%) |
| Intratumoral hemorrhage |
|
| Yes |
17 (52%) |
| No |
16 (48%) |
| Location of brain metastases |
|
| Frontal |
5 (15%) |
| Parietal |
6 (18%) |
| Occipital |
2 (6%) |
| Temporal |
1 (3%) |
| Cerebellar |
1 (3%) |
| Cavernous sinus |
1 (3%) |
| Basal ganglia |
1 (3%) |
| Multiple locations |
16 (48%) |
| Treatment modalities |
|
| Resection alone |
4 (12%) |
| Resection + WBRT |
6 (18%) |
| GKS alone |
11 (33%) |
| GKS + WBRT |
2 (6%) |
| WBRT alone |
4 (12%) |
| Palliative (Steroid alone) | 6 (18%) |