title: Leptomeningeal carcinomatosis presenting as eosinophilic meningitis.
abstract: The case of a 67-year-old man with underlying carcinomatous meningitis who presented with meningismus and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) eosinophilia is reported. CSF eosinophilia can reflect a number of underlying conditions; however, carcinomatous meningitis is not generally considered. In this case, studies for bacterial, fungal and parasitic agents were negative. Cytologic examination of a lumbar puncture specimen revealed malignant epithelial cells in an inflammatory background. When unexplained eosinophilia is found in the CSF, a thorough search for coincident meningeal carcinomatosis should be undertaken.
authors.forename: K A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Conrad
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Gross
authors.forename: J Q
authors.initials: JQ
authors.lastname: Trojanowski
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D002555:Cerebrospinal Fluid / Q000166:cytology; D004802:Eosinophilia / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008577:Meningeal Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D008581:Meningitis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D013129:Spinal Puncture