title: [Neoplastic meningitis].
abstract: Neoplastic meningitis(NM)is a common problem in neuro-oncology. Notwithstanding its frequent focal signs and symptoms, NM is a disease affecting the entire neuraxis, and therefore its staging and treatment must include all cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)compartments. Diagnosis of NM is conducted by magnetic resonance imaging(MR-Gd)and pathological examination using CSF. Treatments of NM include involved-field radiotherapy of bulky or symptomatic disease sites, systemic chemotherapy, or intra-CSF drug therapy. At present, intra-CSF drug therapy is confined to three chemotherapeutic agents(i. e., methotrexate, cytosine arabinoside, and thio-TEPA)administered in a variety of schedules either by intralumbar or intraventricular delivery. Although treatment of NM is palliative with an expected median patient survival of 2 to 6 months, it often affords stabilization and protection from further neurologic deterioration in patients with NM. Recently, liposomal cytarabine has been developed and introduced in several clinical trials, demonstrating promising results.
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Hematology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Japan.
authors.forename: Katsuyuki
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hotta
authors.forename: Mitsune
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tanimoto
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D006801:Humans; D008581:Meningitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy; D011379:Prognosis
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents