title: Carcinomatous meningitis as the presenting manifestation of gallbladder carcinoma: case report and review of the literature.
abstract: The primary tumors that typically cause carcinomatous meningitis include lung cancer, breast cancer, leukemia, lymphoma and melanoma. A variety of neurological signs and symptoms can be seen depending on the extent and location of the meningeal metastasis. Once the diagnosis of carcinomatous meningitis is confirmed, the search for the primary tumor can be a challenge and at times may require extensive radiographic or even surgical evaluation to obtain specimen for pathological confirmation. Here we report a patient who presented with bilateral cranial nerve VIII and cerebellar symptoms, and was diagnosed with carcinomatous meningitis. Only after an exploratory laporatomy did it become clear that the initial symptoms were related to a metastatic gallbladder carcinoma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University of Utah Hospital, Salt Lake City, UT 84132, USA. jason.shen@usa.net
authors.forename: Yue
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.forename: Deborah T
authors.initials: DT
authors.lastname: Blumenthal
authors.forename: Kathleen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Digre
authors.forename: Melissa H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Cessna
authors.forename: Evelyn V
authors.initials: EV
authors.lastname: Gopez
mesh_terms: D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D005706:Gallbladder Neoplasms / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000556:secondary; D006801:Humans; D008577:Meningeal Neoplasms / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008581:Meningitis / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008875:Middle Aged