Cranial nerve lesions due to base of the skull metastases in prostate carcinoma

Abstract

We studied 11 patients with prostate cancer metastatic to the base of skull that caused cranial nerve deficits. Patients with occipital condyle, jugular foramen, middle fossa, parasellar, and orbital syndromes are described. Other patients had combinations of these syndromes or other cranial nerve involvements. Two patients had 6th nerve palsies secondary to prepontine cistern and clivus lesions. The median survival time from the diagnosis of cranial nerve involvement was 4 months. Two patients had cranial nerve involvement and, on subsequent investigation, were found to have carcinoma of the prostate. Interestingly, these patients are still alive at 42 and 84 months after diagnosis.