Complete response with combined therapy in a patient with brain metastasis from nasopharyngeal carcinoma: case report and literature review

Abstract

Brain metastasis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a rare event with limited research. In this report, we discuss the details of a case of brain metastasis from NPC that presented with a solitary, cystic lesion in the frontal lobe. We also reviewed the related literature published in the last 20 years. We analyzed the patient’s clinical characteristics, which indirectly suggested hematogenous spread rather than a cerebrospinal fluid route. Although there are no standard treatments for brain metastasis of NPC, previous studies reported that combined surgery and radiotherapy was a good treatment option, with long survival. Our patient achieved intracranial complete response after the combination of conventional chemoradiotherapy and novel immunotherapy. This treatment option could be useful in future similar cases.