Carcinomatous meningitis from urachal carcinoma: the first reported case

J Neurooncol. 2006 Jan;76(2):171-4. doi: 10.1007/s11060-005-4815-7.

Abstract

Carcinomatous meningitis (CM) occurs in less than 10% of cancer patients. Although patients frequently present with a focal complaint, multifocal signs are often found following careful neurological examination. The gold standard for diagnosis remains the demonstration of neoplastic cells in the cerebrospinal fluid. Despite the discouraging prognosis, palliative treatment may improve quality of life and lengthen lifespan. We report a patient with known primary carcinoma of the urachus who presented with headaches, nausea, vomiting and ataxia 1 week following resection of a nodular arachnoidal metastasis (indenting the cerebellum). Lumbar cerebrospinal fluid subsequently confirmed carcinomatous meningitis. This is the first reported case of carcinomatous meningitis resulting from metastatic urachal carcinoma.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adenocarcinoma / cerebrospinal fluid
  • Adenocarcinoma / pathology*
  • Adenocarcinoma / secondary
  • Adult
  • Cerebellar Neoplasms / cerebrospinal fluid
  • Cerebellar Neoplasms / pathology
  • Cerebellar Neoplasms / secondary
  • Fatal Outcome
  • Humans
  • Lung Neoplasms / cerebrospinal fluid
  • Lung Neoplasms / pathology
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Male
  • Meningeal Neoplasms / cerebrospinal fluid
  • Meningeal Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Meningeal Neoplasms / secondary
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed
  • Urachus*
  • Urologic Neoplasms / cerebrospinal fluid
  • Urologic Neoplasms / pathology*