Ann Surg Treat Res.  2014 Jan;86(1):16-21. 10.4174/astr.2014.86.1.16.

Leptomeningeal carcinomatosis from gastric cancer: single institute retrospective analysis of 9 cases

• Kim NH
• Kim JH
• Chin HM
• Jun KH

• KMID: 2266901
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4174/astr.2014.86.1.16

Abstract

PURPOSE
The aim of this study is to investigate the clinical features and outcomes of 9 consecutive patients who suffered with leptomeningeal carcinomatosis (LMC) originating from gastric cancer.
METHODS
Between January 1995 and December 2010, we retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 9 patients with gastric LMC who had been treated at St. Vincent's Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea.
RESULTS
With the exception of 1 patient, the primary gastric cancer was Borrmann type III or IV, and 5 cases had poorly differentiated or signet ring cell histology. TNM stage of the primary gastric cancer was III in 6 patients. The median interval from diagnosis of the primary malignancy to the diagnosis of LMC was 9 months. Headache (6 cases), altered mental status (4 cases), and dysarthria (3 cases) were presenting symptoms of LMC. Computed tomography findings were abnormal in 4 of 7 cases, while magnetic resonance imaging revealed abnormality in 4 of 5 cases. Radiation therapy was administered to 5 patients and intrathecal chemotherapy was administered to only 1 patient. Median overall survival duration from the diagnosis of LMC was 3 months.
CONCLUSION
LMC originating from gastric cancer had a fatal clinical course and treatment strategies remain challenging.

Keyword

Stomach neoplasms; Neoplasm metastasis; Meningeal carcinomatosis; Prognosis

MeSH Terms

Diagnosis
Drug Therapy
Dysarthria
Headache
Humans
Korea
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Medical Records
Meningeal Carcinomatosis*
Neoplasm Metastasis
Prognosis
Retrospective Studies*
Stomach Neoplasms*

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Overall survival from the diagnosis of leptomenningeal carcinomatosis. Median overall survival was 3.0 months.

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