[Intracerebral metastasis of esophageal carcinoma--a case report and review of literature].

We encountered a case of brain metastasis from asymptomatic esophageal cancer. A 50-year-old man presented with right hemiparesis and bilateral choked discs. The brain CT scan demonstrated ring-like, enhanced tumor with perifocal edema in the left parietal lobe. The chest X-ray showed no abnormalities. The histology of the brain tumor that was totally removed after irradiation, showed a poorly differentiated squamous cancer. By the following study, an esophageal cancer of Borrman II type and 8 cm in length at the middle third segment detected. The histology of biopsy specimen showed findings similar to those of the brain tumor. He was not operated on, and received irradiation and chemotherapy. The esophageal carcinoma was reduced markedly, then he fully recovered in social life taking maintenance therapy for cancer. Seven cases of metastatic brain tumor from esophagus have been reported in literature. Esophagus carcinomas with brain metastasis were situated at the lower third in 6 cases with the exception of one without description, although esophageal carcinomas in general most frequently occur in the middle third. In any of the cases so far reported, no lung tumor was demonstrated by the chest X-ray, so the route of metastasis via vertebral vein system as proposed by Batson (1940) may explain the fact.