[Extraordinary manifestation of a gastric carcinoma by leptomeningeal carcinomatosis and spinal metastasis].
BACKGROUND
Leptomeningeal carcinomatosis is a rare complication of solid tumors, e. g., breast, lung and gastrointestinal carcinomas. Clinical manifestations are variable with radicular pains with or without neurologic deficiencies as well as headache and hallucinations.


METHODS
The rare case of a 57-year-old patient with neurologic symptoms caused by a leptomeningeal carcinomatosis and a spinal metastasis of an asymptomatic signet-ring cell gastric carcinoma is reported. In spite of combined radiochemotherapy the patient died already 4 weeks after discharge from hospital due to an intracerebral hemorrhage.


CONCLUSIONS
Until today, prognosis of leptomeningeal carcinomatosis is poor with a median survival between 3-4 months independently of the primary tumor.
Cresto
Nicola
N
Klinik für Allgemeine Innere Medizin, Inselspital, Universitätsspital Bern, Bern, Schweiz.
Barth
Alain
A
Arnold
Marlene
M
Weimann
Rosemarie
R
Gschossmann
Jürgen
J
Ochsenbein
Adrian F
AF
Kolotas
Christos
C
Peter
Hans-Jakob
HJ
Schiemann
Uwe
U
D001706:Biopsy; D018279:Carcinoma, Signet Ring Cell / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary* / Q000628:therapy; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D018450:Disease Progression; D005773:Gastroscopy; D006801:Humans; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008577:Meningeal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary* / Q000628:therapy; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009460:Neurologic Examination; D011128:Polyradiculopathy / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D012447:Sacrum; D013120:Spinal Cord Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary* / Q000628:therapy; D013270:Stomach / Q000473:pathology; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy