Meningeal carcinomatosis manifested as bilateral progressive sensorineural hearing loss.
OBJECTIVE
Meningeal carcinomatosis is defined as the diffuse infiltration of the leptomeninges and subarachnoid space by malignant cells metastasizing from systemic cancer. The authors describe a rare case of meningeal carcinomatosis initially appearing as bilateral progressive sensorineural hearing loss.


METHODS
A 57-year-old man with lung cancer was referred to the authors' clinic because of progressive hearing loss, tinnitus, dizziness, and blurred vision for 1 month.


RESULTS
Magnetic resonance imaging revealed abnormal leptomeningeal enhancement. Meningeal carcinomatosis was diagnosed by the detection of malignant cells in the cerebrospinal fluid after lumbar puncture. The patient died 1 year after diagnosis.


CONCLUSIONS
Meningeal carcinomatosis must be considered in the differential diagnosis in cancer patients with bilateral progressive sensorineural hearing loss. Gadolinium-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging is a useful complementary diagnostic tool before lumbar puncture.
Department of Otolaryngology, National Taiwan University, Taipei.
T Y
TY
Shen
Y H
YH
Young
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000556:secondary*; D001301:Audiometry, Pure-Tone; D002555:Cerebrospinal Fluid / Q000166:cytology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004172:Diplopia / Q000209:etiology; D018450:Disease Progression; D004244:Dizziness / Q000209:etiology; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005682:Gadolinium; D006319:Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008577:Meningeal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000556:secondary*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011868:Radioisotopes; D013129:Spinal Puncture; D014012:Tinnitus / Q000209:etiology
D011868:Radioisotopes; D005682:Gadolinium