2 CASES OF ESOPHAGEAL-CARCINOMA METASTATIC TO THE PINEAL REGION WITH A REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE

BACKGROUND Metastasis to the pineal region is rare, and there are no p reviously reported cases of esophageal carcinoma metastatic to the pin eal region. CASE DESCRIPTION We now present two cases of solitary esop hageal carcinoma metastatic to the pineal region. In each case there w as no evidence of disease progression at the primary site at the time of presentation, and neurologic symptoms were the first indication of recurrent disease. Both patients underwent infratentorial/supracerebel lar resection of the pineal lesions and were subsequently referred for radiation therapy. CONCLUSIONS These two cases emphasize that metasta tic disease must be a likely differential consideration in a patient w ith a CNS lesion and a history of previous malignancy, even if the les ion is in an unusual location. (C) 1998 by Elsevier Science Inc.