Brain metastases epidemiology in a Tunisian population: trends and outcome.

AIM: We reported anatomo-clinical features of brain metastases (BMs) collected in a Tunisian medical oncology department. PATIENTS & METHODS: We retrospectively identified all cases of BM within a cohort of 7055 patients, treated for a histologically confirmed nonhematological cancer between 2000 and 2016. Data about age, sex and primary tumor were collected. RESULTS: Incidence was 1.9% and mean age was 54 years with a 1.24 sex ratio. BMs were symptomatic in 73.7% of cases after a median time of 16 months. A total of 73.4% patients receiving local therapy, 88% by whole brain radiation therapy and 21.6% had a metastasectomy. Lung and breast cancers were the primary in 80% of the BM. CONCLUSION: BM showed trends of young with underestimated incidence.

First site of recurrence after breast cancer adjuvant treatment in the era of multimodality therapy: which imaging for which patient during follow-up?

PURPOSE: We evaluated the relation between first site of recurrence of early breast cancer and disease profile at presentation and reported survival results, suggesting a personalized diagnostic imaging guidance during follow up. METHODS: Among 1400 early breast cancer treated from 2000 to 2010, 324 relapses were divided into 4 groups according to first site: A-locoregional, B-bone, C-Brain and D-visceral. We analyzed redictive factors of each group compared to a control group of 100 non relapsing patients and the remaining groups matched. RESULTS: In group A, patients were more likely to have histological tumor size above >2 cm, grade 1-2, HR positive and 0-3 involved lymph nodes. In group B, patients had more commonly grade 2-3, 1-3 positive lymph nodes and HR positive tumors. In group C, patients were more frequently young, with large tumor size, grade3, positive lymph nodes and HER2 positive tumors. In group D, patients were more likely to have tumors>2 cm in size, with nodal involvement, grade 3, HR negative and HER2 positive tumors. Annual recurrence rate in group A, was stable ranging between 15%-18%, within the first 3 years and peaked at 19.4% in the interval [1-2]year in group B. Median survival was 46 months in group A, 43 months in group B, with no significant difference. CONCLUSION: Outcome of loco-regional and bone relapses was good, suggesting that both systematic mammography and bone-scan/CT scan for high risk patients (N+, gradeIII) during the first 2-3 years may represent a tailored relevant follow-up protocol for breast cancer patients.