[Multiple (visceral and neurologic) tumors].
OBJECTIVE
We studied the frequency, histology, epidemiological features and delay between tumours with one localization in the central nervous system. We searched for an association between neurological and visceral neoplasia and tried to establish a guideline when central nervous system tumours appear after a visceral tumour.


METHODS
From January 1973 to December 1993, we archived all patients admitted for neurological tumours or who had tumours discovered in our ward. Both neurological and non-neurological and malignant and non-malignant tumours which appeared simultaneously or after a delay were recorded. We retained only patients who had one neurological and one or more visceral tumours (n = 11). Multiple neurological or visceral tumours and phacomatosis were excluded.


RESULTS
The association between neurological and visceral tumours is an uncommon but not exceptional finding as multiple tumours were seen in 1% of the cases admitted during the study period with a neurological or a visceral tumour. Meningioma and glioma were the most frequent histological type of central nervous system tumours (10 cases out of 11). Malignant melanoma was particularly frequent among the systemic tumours (3 out of 13 tumours). The classical association between meningioma and malignant breast neoplasia was absent in our study but an association of malignant melanoma and tumours of the central nervous system was found in 3 patients. Age and sex were similar for neurological and visceral tumours. The delay separating the discovery of the two tumours was shorter when the first tumour was a neurological tumour.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings demonstrate the frequency of associated neoplasia. We did not find the classical association between breast cancer and meningioma but did find one between malignant melanoma and tumours of the central nervous system. This short study emphasizes the usefulness of having histological proof (when possible) before considering a cerebral tumour as a metastasis of a visceral tumour.
Giraud
P
P
Service de Neurologie, Hôpital Neurologique Pierre Wertheimer, Lyon.
Petiot
P
P
Vighetto
A
A
Aimard
G
G
D000328:Adult; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology; D016543:Central Nervous System Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005910:Glioma / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000473:pathology; D008579:Meningioma / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology; D009378:Neoplasms, Multiple Primary / Q000473:pathology; D016609:Neoplasms, Second Primary / Q000473:pathology; D014781:Viscera
Les tumeurs multiples (viscérales et neurologiques).