Leptomeningeal carcinomatosis from gastric cancer: single institute retrospective analysis of 9 cases.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study is to investigate the clinical features and outcomes of 9 consecutive patients who suffered with leptomeningeal carcinomatosis (LMC) originating from gastric cancer.


METHODS
Between January 1995 and December 2010, we retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 9 patients with gastric LMC who had been treated at St. Vincent's Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea.


RESULTS
With the exception of 1 patient, the primary gastric cancer was Borrmann type III or IV, and 5 cases had poorly differentiated or signet ring cell histology. TNM stage of the primary gastric cancer was III in 6 patients. The median interval from diagnosis of the primary malignancy to the diagnosis of LMC was 9 months. Headache (6 cases), altered mental status (4 cases), and dysarthria (3 cases) were presenting symptoms of LMC. Computed tomography findings were abnormal in 4 of 7 cases, while magnetic resonance imaging revealed abnormality in 4 of 5 cases. Radiation therapy was administered to 5 patients and intrathecal chemotherapy was administered to only 1 patient. Median overall survival duration from the diagnosis of LMC was 3 months.


CONCLUSIONS
LMC originating from gastric cancer had a fatal clinical course and treatment strategies remain challenging.
Department of Surgery, St. Vincent's Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea College of Medicine, Suwon, Korea.
Nam-Hee
NH
Kim
Department of Surgery, St. Vincent's Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea College of Medicine, Suwon, Korea.
Ji-Hyun
JH
Kim
Department of Surgery, St. Vincent's Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea College of Medicine, Suwon, Korea.
Hyung-Min
HM
Chin
Department of Surgery, St. Vincent's Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea College of Medicine, Suwon, Korea.
Kyong-Hwa
KH
Jun
Meningeal carcinomatosis; Neoplasm metastasis; Prognosis; Stomach neoplasms