title: Meningeal carcinomatosis of the internal auditory meatus: clinical and imagery-aided differentiation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe difficulties in diagnosing meningeal carcinomatosis of the internal auditory meatus (IAM-MC).
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective case review.
  
  
  METHODS
  Tertiary skull base surgery referral center.
  
  
  METHODS
  A series of six cases of patients diagnosed with IAM-CM over 14 years.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The primary cancer was known before diagnosis in three cases (adenocarcinoma of lung, breast, and melanoma). In two others, it was discovered at workup (lung, ethmoid adenocarcinoma). In the last case, no primary cancer was identified. Vestibular symptoms were the first complaint in five of the six cases. Referral symptom was facial paralysis in five cases and rapid-onset total deafness associated with severe unsteadiness in one. Rapid hearing decrease and symptoms of bilateralization were observed in five cases. Diagnosis was ascertained by discovery of malignant cells in the CSF in three cases and at tumor biopsy in one case. In the two other cases, the association of brain metastases and increased dura mater infiltration was convincing. Treatment consisted in radiation therapy to the whole brain in five cases and intrathecal chemotherapy in one case. Evolution was rapidly lethal in five cases. The last died free of disease 4 years after treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  IAM-MC is difficult to demonstrate. Progressive facial paralysis associated with aggressive and rapidly bilateral cochlear and vestibular symptoms are highly evocative in the event of cancer in the patient's history. If there is no history of cancer, lumbar puncture is to be repeated until malignant cells are discovered in the CSF before beginning radiotherapy.
authors.affiliation: *Department of Otolaryngology and Skull Base Surgery, Pellegrin University Hospital, Bordeaux Segalen University, Bordeaux, 33000-F, France; and †Department of Radiation Oncology, University Hospital, Bordeaux Segalen University, Bordeaux, 33000-F, France.
authors.forename: Erwan
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: de Mones del Pujol
authors.forename: Judith
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kouassi
authors.forename: Jean-Philippe
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Maire
authors.forename: Valérie
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Franco-Vidal
authors.forename: Vincent
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Darrouzet
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000556:secondary*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018450:Disease Progression; D007758:Ear, Inner / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D055756:Meningeal Carcinomatosis / Q000473:pathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D013701:Temporal Bone / Q000473:pathology*