Meningeal carcinomatosis: a report of 3 cases and review of literatures
- VernacularTitle:癌性脑膜病3例及文献复习
- Author:
Guoqiang WANG
;
Weiwei ZHANG
;
Weimin YIN
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
neoplasms;
meninges;
meningeal carcinomatosis;
cerebrospinal fluid
- From:
Medical Journal of Chinese People's Liberation Army
1981;0(06):-
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Objective To explore the clinical features of meningeal carcinomatosis (MC). Methods The clinical data of 3 male patients with MC, administered to the authors' hospital within one-year period, were retrospectively analyzed. The pathological mechanism, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, treatment and the prognosis were summarized and relevant literature was reviewed. Results All the three patients presented neurological symptoms at the onset. Case 1, 52-year-old having a history of radical resection for gastric cancer 3 years ago, suffered from headache for 2 months without apparent digestive symptoms. Case 2, 71-year-old, presented diplopia for 2 months. Case 3, 46-year-old, complained diplopia for 3 months, followed by left hip pain and urinary retentions. For case 1, examinations after admission suggested no signs of local recurrence or systemic metastasi. For case 2 and 3, lung tumors were detected and then pulmonary carcinoma was diagnosed. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of the three patients showed similar changes, including mild increase of protein, decrease of glucose and chlorides. Carcinous cells (heterocyst, signet-ring cell and large round heterocyst) were found and cells with positive tumor markers were found in the CSF of all the three patients. MRI also showed specific enhancement on meninges. All these patients, died on day 7, 47 and 24 respectively, after the diagnosis was established. Conclusions Neurological symptoms might be the earliest or the exclusive clinical features of meningeal carcinoma metastasis. A detailed neurological and oncological examination is necessary for the patients with progressive neurological lesions without obvious precipitating cause.
