Unusual Metastasis of Prostate Cancer: A Rare Case Report Volume 2 - Issue 3

Y Dkhissi¹*, A Mai¹, M Haloua¹, B Alami¹, Y Alaoui Lamrani¹, M Maaroufi¹, M Boubbou¹, O Amrani Souhli2, M Ahsaini², S Mellas², JE Ammari¹, MF Tazi¹ and MH Farih²

• ¹Radiοlοgy department of Hassan II university hospital, Sidi Mοhammed Ben Abdellah University, Fez, Morocco
• ²Urοlοgy department of Hassan II university hospital, Sidi Mοhammed Ben Abdellah University, Fez, Morocco

Received: December 13, 2019;   Published: December 16, 2019

Corresponding author: Dkhissi Younes, Radiology department of Hassan II university hospital, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy of Fez, Sidi Mohammed Ben Abdellah University, Fez, Morocco

DOI: 10.32474/JUNS.2019.02.000140

Abstract PDF

Abstract

Prostate cancer is the second death causing men cancer after lung cancer [1]. It is the most common men cancer over the age of 50. Metastasis for this type of cancer are mainly lymph node and bone. Visceral and cerebral metastasis are unusual, rare and terminal, reported in less than 4% of cases and often postmortem. [2] We report the case of a patient suffering from prostate adenocarcinoma with a high-risk according to the AMICO classification, who has been operated (open prostatectomy without preservation of neurovascular bundle). The patient presented two years after radical treatment a biological recurrence and started complaining headache and visual problems that led to the discovery of dural metastasis.

Keywords: Cancer; Prostate; Dural metastasis

Introduction

Prostate cancer is the most common men cancer over 50 years. It represents the first urological cancer and the second after lung cancer [3,4]. It is a global disease whose incidence increases with age and varies by races and regions [3,5]. The diagnosis is based on digital rectal exam and an abnormal increase of prostate specific antigen (PSA), which may envisage and predict tumor extension (PSA>100ng/ml) [5,6]. The anatomy pathology study confirms the diagnosis and specifies the type and grade of histology. Prostatic cancers are dominated in 95% by adenocarcinomas [7]. Less than 2% of patients develop brain metastasis. Autopsy series have certified the rarity of brain secondary locations [8]. The most common metastasis are lymph node and bone (reaching 40% of patients at the time of diagnosis and 86% at the terminal stage). Visceral and brain metastasis are rare and terminal [2].

Patient and Methods

54-year-old patient with history of operated shoulder fracture 9 years ago, presented low urinary tract symptoms (poor steam, sensation of incomplete bladder emptying) associated to approximately eight kilograms of weight loss. The initial clinical examination objectified an enlarged asymmetrical prostate (60g) with areas of firmness and induration. The PSA level was 18 ng/ml. A trans rectal ultrasound was performed and showed an increased prostate volume with diffuse hypo echogenic areas. The kidneys were normal, without dilatation. The prostatic biopsy revealed a moderately differentiated prostatic adenocarcinoma with a Gleason score of 7 (4+3). This ranks the patient as a highrisk patient according to the AMICO classification. The initial extension CT didn’t objectify any remote secondary locations. The patient was operated (open prostatectomy without preservation of neurovascular bundle). The patient presented a good clinical, biological and radiological response. Two years later, the patient had a biological recurrence with a high PSA level superior to 0.2 μg/L, he was programmed for radiotherapy sessions. Meanwhile, the patient experienced headaches with a decrease in visual acuity. A cerebral CT scan was performed with evidence of dural and skull metastasis (Figures 1 & 2).

Discussion

The pathogenesis of dural metastasis is not yet elucidated [8]. There are two main routes of dissemination: Hematogenous diffusion from a cerebral localization or from the cervical lymph nodes through the cranial foramina [9,10]. Theoretically, the cancer cell detaches itself from the primary tumor and crosses several barriers to reach the target organ which is the dura [11]. Prostate cancer presents a great tropism for dura [12]. It is responsible of 9% of dural metastasis and comes behind breast cancers 32% and melanomas 11% [13].
Diffuse dural metastatic localization are exceptional and associated with a diffuse metastatic infiltration of the cranial vault and skull base; these localizations are observed in prostate cancer; bone metastatic involvement is represented by diffuse osteoblastic lesions of the skull base, bone thickening and loss of differentiation between the inner, outer tables and the spongy bone of the diploé. The dura being in contact with the infiltrated cranial vault and skull base appears thickened and enhanced after injection of the contrast agent, focal thickening is possible and can simulate meningioma; subcutaneous tissues can also be infiltrated; the falx cerebri and tentorium cerebelli are preserved. [14]
A diffuse thickening of the dura of the convexity and possibly of the base respecting the dura of the falx cerebri and tentorium cerebelli evokes diffuse tumor infiltration, most often related to metastatic infiltration of cranial vault and skull base, essentially in prostate cancer. [14] Many autopsy studies affirmed the rarity of the brain metastasis emanating from prostate cancer [15]. In a large postmortem study about metastatic patterns of prostate cancer, Saitoh et al. [16], noted no cases of brain metastasis.
In our case, the brain metastasis was diagnosed while the patient was not on any treatment including chemotherapy or hormone therapy. It was revealed 24 months later from the initial radical treatment. This result approaches the result obtained by MD Anderson’s experience with brain metastasis in prostate cancer, published in 1999 by Mccutcheon and his partners that revealed that the average delay between the diagnosis of prostate cancer and the first discovery of brain metastasis was approximately 28 months. [17] Another enlarged and updated study realized in 2003 by Tremont-Lukats and partners revealed that the brain metastases represented only 0.6%. [18]
The median survival of cancer prostate patient with central nervous system relapse in clinical series is poor [8].In the MD Anderson series, the median survival was 1 month, the patients receiving palliative radiotherapy showed an an improved median survival of 3.5 months (2.4 to 4.6 months). In our case, the patient is still alive after starting palliative radiotherapy for 5 months [19].

Conclusion

Brain metastasis of prostate cancer are rare, often discovered in postmortem. It requires close monitoring; the rise of PSA levels should alarm. Imaging is important to confirm the diagnosis and to eliminate the other etiologies. The factors underlying the selective tropism of the prostatic malignancy for the brain remain to be defined.

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