Spinal leptomeningeal infiltration by systemic cancer: myelographic features

Five cases of spinal leptomeningeal infiltration by systemic cancer are presented and myelographic features are discussed with a review of the literature. Common characteristic features are parallel longitudinal striations due to thickened nerve roots in the cauda equina and bizarre irregular filling defects with varying degrees of blocks, resembling arachnoiditis. Another pattern described in the literature consists of multiple nodular filling defects along the nerve roots of the cause equina.