Incidence and predictors of brain metastasis in colorectal cancer patients

Purpose: Brain metastasis (BM) in colorectal cancer patients is rare and is associated with dismal outcomes. Our study aims to evaluate the incidence and predictors of BM in patients with colorectal cancer. Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis (2010–2017) of patients with a primary diagnosis of colorectal cancer (CRC). Patients were stratified into two groups (BM vs. No-BM). Outcome measures were the incidence and predictors of BM. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed. Results: A total of 230,806 patients were analyzed. A total of 0.30% (n = 691) of the patients were found to have BM. On multivariate logistics regression, bone (OR: 5.39 [3.36–8.65], p < 0.001), lung (OR: 3.75 [2.67–5.28], < 0.001), and distant node metastasis (OR: 32.75 [20.47–52.41], p < 0.001) were independent predictors of BM. Conclusion: Our study supports the low incidence of brain metastasis in patients with colorectal cancer. A unique set of characteristics is identified to confer an increased risk of brain metastases.