Meningeal carcinomatosis in solid tumors

Autor: Sandro José Martins, Carla Rameri Alexandre Silva de Azevedo, Ludmilla Thomé Domingos Chinen, Marcelo Rocha Sousa Cruz, Marcos Aurélio Peterlevitz, Daniel Luiz Gimenes
Jazyk: angličtina
Rok vydání: 2011
Předmět:
Zdroj: Arquivos de Neuro-Psiquiatria, Vol 69, Iss 6, Pp 973-980 (2011)
Druh dokumentu: article
ISSN: 1678-4227
0004-282X
DOI: 10.1590/S0004-282X2011000700024
Popis: The involvement of the leptomeninges by metastatic tumors can be observed in solid tumors, in which case it is termed meningeal carcinomatosis (MC), and in lymphoproliferative malignant disease. It is more common in breast and lung cancer, as well as melanoma, with adenocarcinoma being the most frequent histological type. MC is usually a late event, with disseminated and progressive disease already present and, it is characterized by multifocal neurological signs and symptoms. Diagnosis is based on the evaluation of clinical presentation, cerebrospinal fluid and neuroimaging studies. The better systemic disease control is observed with new therapeutic agents, and the development of neuroimaging methods is responsible for the increasing incidence of such metastatic evolution. Intrathecal chemotherapy is generally the treatment of choice, although frequently palliative. Prognosis is guarded, although a higher performance status may indicate a subgroup of patients with a more favorable outcome.
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