[Extraordinary manifestation of a gastric carcinoma by leptomeningeal carcinomatosis and spinal metastasis]

Abstract

Background: Leptomeningeal carcinomatosis is a rare complication of solid tumors, e. g., breast, lung and gastrointestinal carcinomas. Clinical manifestations are variable with radicular pains with or without neurologic deficiencies as well as headache and hallucinations.

Case report: The rare case of a 57-year-old patient with neurologic symptoms caused by a leptomeningeal carcinomatosis and a spinal metastasis of an asymptomatic signet-ring cell gastric carcinoma is reported. In spite of combined radiochemotherapy the patient died already 4 weeks after discharge from hospital due to an intracerebral hemorrhage.

Conclusion: Until today, prognosis of leptomeningeal carcinomatosis is poor with a median survival between 3-4 months independently of the primary tumor.