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[Carcinomatous meningitis presenting with isolated headache].
O Outteryck1, D Berteloot, O Senechal
1Service de Neurologie, Hôpital Dr Schaffner, Lens.
Revue Neurologique
|October 20, 2004
Summary
Diagnosing carcinomatous meningitis can be challenging due to non-specific symptoms. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and elevated cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) tumor markers significantly aid in diagnosis.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Oncology
- Radiology
Background:
- Carcinomatous meningitis, a form of leptomeningeal metastasis, presents in 10% of solid cancer cases.
- Diagnosis is often challenging due to non-specific clinical presentations and lack of suggestive context.
Observation:
- A patient presented with progressively worsening isolated headache.
- Initial Cranial Computerized Tomography (CT) was normal.
- Brain Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) revealed meningeal enhancement and nodular deposits.
Findings:
- Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) examinations showed elevated tumor markers and suspect cells.
- Pulmonary adenocarcinoma was diagnosed during systematic follow-up.
- Negative CSF-cytology is frequent in carcinomatous meningitis.
Implications:
- Brain MRI and elevated CSF tumor markers are crucial for diagnosing carcinomatous meningitis.
- Early and accurate diagnosis is vital for timely treatment and improved patient outcomes.
- This case highlights the importance of advanced imaging and CSF analysis in suspected leptomeningeal metastasis.