CONDITIONS WE TREAT: Leptomeningeal Carcinomatosis

Leptomeninges is a term used to refer to two of the membranes that surround the brain and the spinal cord. Leptomeningeal carcinomatosis refers to diffuse seeding of the leptomeninges by tumor metastases; It occurs in an estimated 20% of patients diagnosed with cancer and is most commonly found in breast carcinoma, lung carcinoma, and melanoma in adults and hematogenous malignancies and primitive neuroectodermal tumor (PNET) in children.

Antemortem diagnosis of LC is becoming more common, as newer therapies increase the life span of cancer patients and improvements in technology increase the sensitivity of imaging studies. Early diagnosis is important, as it can alert the oncologist to begin therapy prior to neurologic deterioration.