Dural metastases.
Dural metastases are found at autopsy in 8-9% of patients with advanced systemic cancer. They arise either by direct extension from skull metastases or by hematogeneous spread. Dural metastases are often clinically asymptomatic but they may produce progressive neurological deficits and sometimes subdural hematomas. MRI may be misleading when the metastasis simulates a meningioma or when a subdural hematoma masks the underlying tumor. Whenever possible, surgical removal is the most appropriate treatment. The prognosis is poor because of the progressive systemic cancer but prolonged survival has been reported in operated patients, when the systemic cancer was controlled.
Laigle-Donadey
Florence
F
Fédération de Neurologie Mazarin, Groupe Hospitalier Pitié-Salpêtrière, 47 boulevard de l'hôpital, 75651, Paris Cedex 13, France.
Taillibert
Sophie
S
Mokhtari
Karima
K
Hildebrand
Jerzy
J
Delattre
Jean-Yves
JY
D004388:Dura Mater / Q000473:pathology*; D006408:Hematoma, Subdural / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality; D006801:Humans; D008579:Meningioma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality / Q000556:secondary*