The correlation between clinical symptomatology and computerized tomography in brain metastasis secondary to breast and lung neoplasias

Abstract

In 60 patients with Brain Metastases (B.M.) secondary to breast or lung neoplasia we evaluated the appearance of the first neurological clinical symptom and the findings of the examination by computerized tomography (CT). It was observed that in 79% of cases the first clinical symptom is possible without any repercussion on the motor pathways. Headache, observed in 36.5% of the patients, suggests presentation of cerebral metastases (M.C.) at the frontal or fronto-parietal level in 73% of the cases, and multiple metastatization in 68%. Other clinical symptoms which showed up less often were motor disturbances (20%), convulsive crises (10%) and character changes (8.5%).

The existence of a relationship between the age and multiple B.M. was verified. They showed up in 69% of the patients aged less than 50. In patients aged over 65 the appearance of single metastasis increases, especially in those B.M. secondary to breast neoplasia, where it was observed in 60% of the cases.

The most important differences observed between the two processes, are the greater development of B.M. at the cerebellar level (25%) and the greater appearance of convulsive crises (14%) in those patients with lung neoplasia.