title: [Carcinomatous meningitis as a rare presentation of gastric cancer].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Carcinomatous meningitis is a rare complication of gastric cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 46 year-old man with an unremarkable medical history was hospitalized for treatment of suspected meningitis. Despite treatment, his clinical state rapidly worsened and he died without regaining consciousness, shortly after transfer to the ICU. Autopsy showed that he had anchorage-independent cell gastric carcinoma, with simultaneous lymphatic, pulmonary, cutaneous and meningeal metastases.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The rising incidence of secondary meningeal lesions in the last two decades is probably associated with the treatment-related improvement in life expectancy. Prognosis is very grave, and median survival time is only several weeks. Carcinomatous meningitis is difficult to diagnosis, especially as the first sign of a primary tumor. This rare presentation of gastric cancer indicates diffuse metastatic spread and extremely poor prognosis.
authors.affiliation: Service d'hépatogastroentérologie, Hôpital Cochin, Paris. c.bredin@free.fr
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bredin
authors.forename: Benoît
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Terris
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sogni
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Podevin
mesh_terms: D001344:Autopsy; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000556:secondary*; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008577:Meningeal Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary*; D008581:Meningitis / Q000209:etiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis*