Leptomeningeal myelomatosis presenting with mental status changes and other neurologic findings.
BACKGROUND
Leptomeningeal myelomatosis is a rare complication of multiple myeloma.


METHODS
The authors identified and studied three patients with leptomeningeal myelomatosis and reviewed previous case reports of this condition.


RESULTS
The patients described here had intermittent abnormalities in mental status or cranial nerve and brain stem abnormalities. Two of the patients responded dramatically, though transiently, to treatment. In one patient, the clinical findings correlated with lesions visualized by gadolinium-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging.


CONCLUSIONS
These patients are typical of those reported previously. Patients with leptomeningeal myelomatosis often have a good response to treatment initially, but long-term survival is rare.
Leifer
D
D
Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston.
Grabowski
T
T
Simonian
N
N
Demirjian
Z N
ZN
D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008577:Meningeal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009101:Multiple Myeloma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000209:etiology