In our experience in irradiation of tumor of the brain, comprising a series of 170 cases, there have been two unusual cases, details of which are reported in this article. In these cases widespread metastases developed, presumably from the brain lesion. Distant metastasis from a tumor of the brain is rare, and close study of the literature has failed to reveal a single reported case. We have felt considerable hesitancy, therefore, in reporting these cases as tumors of the brain with evidences of metastases, especially since we do not have one important link in the chain of evidence, a postmortem examination. If we are entirely wrong in our assumptions, however, and the cases are examples of primary brain lesions with coincident metastatic tumors of undetermined origin, they are still of scientific value.
REPORT OF CASES
Case 1.—History.
—Mrs. S. A., aged 41, was admitted to the service of Dr. Charles