Brain rare metastatic tumors: a clinicopathological analysis of 14 cases

Abstract

Background: As one of the most common types of malignant brain tumors, brain metastases are associated with poor clinical outcomes. Lung cancer, breast cancer, colorectal cancer, and renal cell carcinoma are the most frequent primary tumors causing brain metastases. This study explores the clinicopathological characteristics and diagnostic challenges of brain metastases from rare tumors to provide references for clinical diagnosis and treatment.

Methods : This study retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 14 patients with brain metastases originating from rare tumors, treated from 2013 to 2025. The data included primary tumor pathological types and follow-up records, supplemented by a literature review.

Results : Among the 14 patients, the primary tumor types included 3 cases of ovarian serous carcinoma, 3 cases of papillary thyroid carcinoma, 2 cases of hepatocellular carcinoma, 2 cases of urothelial carcinoma, 1 case of breast rhabdomyosarcoma, 1 case of uterine leiomyosarcoma, 1 case of penile squamous cell carcinoma, and 1 case of prostate adenocarcinoma. The median age was 62.9 years, and the average maximum tumor diameter was 4.7 cm. Common symptoms included headache and limb weakness. Pathological immunohistochemical analysis revealed key markers such as WT-1, TG, hepPar-1, GATA3, NKX3.1, caldesmon, MyoD1, and P40 were positive staining.

Conclusion : Brain metastases from rare tumors lack specific clinical manifestations, and definitive diagnosis relies on pathology and immunohistochemistry. Multidisciplinary comprehensive treatment may improve prognosis, but overall survival rates remain low, necessitating further exploration of novel strategies such as targeted therapy.

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Cite

BibTeX RIS

BibTeX

@article{liu2026brain,
  title = {{Brain rare metastatic tumors: a clinicopathological analysis of 14 cases}},
  author = {Ting Liu and Jiamin Chen and Kun Yang and Xinghuan Ding and Enshan Feng},
  journal = {Diagnostic Pathology},
  year = {2026},
  month = aug,
  doi = {10.1186/s13000-026-01813-8},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.1186/s13000-026-01813-8},
  note = {CC BY-NC-ND 4.0},
}

RIS

TY  - JOUR
TI  - Brain rare metastatic tumors: a clinicopathological analysis of 14 cases
AU  - Ting Liu
AU  - Jiamin Chen
AU  - Kun Yang
AU  - Xinghuan Ding
AU  - Enshan Feng
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/08/01
JO  - Diagnostic Pathology
DO  - 10.1186/s13000-026-01813-8
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1186/s13000-026-01813-8
AB  - Background: As one of the most common types of malignant brain tumors, brain metastases are associated with poor clinical outcomes. Lung cancer, breast cancer, colorectal cancer, and renal cell carcinoma are the most frequent primary tumors causing brain metastases. This study explores the clinicopathological characteristics and diagnostic challenges of brain metastases from rare tumors to provide references for clinical diagnosis and treatment.  Methods : This study retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 14 patients with brain metastases originating from rare tumors, treated from 2013 to 2025. The data included primary tumor pathological types and follow-up records, supplemented by a literature review.  Results : Among the 14 patients, the primary tumor types included 3 cases of ovarian serous carcinoma, 3 cases of papillary thyroid carcinoma, 2 cases of hepatocellular carcinoma, 2 cases of urothelial carcinoma, 1 case of breast rhabdomyosarcoma, 1 case of uterine leiomyosarcoma, 1 case of penile squamous cell carcinoma, and 1 case of prostate adenocarcinoma. The median age was 62.9 years, and the average maximum tumor diameter was 4.7 cm. Common symptoms included headache and limb weakness. Pathological immunohistochemical analysis revealed key markers such as WT-1, TG, hepPar-1, GATA3, NKX3.1, caldesmon, MyoD1, and P40 were positive staining.  Conclusion : Brain metastases from rare tumors lack specific clinical manifestations, and definitive diagnosis relies on pathology and immunohistochemistry. Multidisciplinary comprehensive treatment may improve prognosis, but overall survival rates remain low, necessitating further exploration of novel strategies such as targeted therapy.
SN  - 1746-1596
ER  -

Abstract

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