title: Stereotactic Radiosurgery as Part of Multimodal Treatment in a Bulky Leptomeningeal Recurrence of Breast Cancer.
abstract: Breast cancer metastatic to the brain and/or leptomeningeal spread of disease is a frequently encountered clinical situation, especially given the extended course of disease in these patients. Systemic therapies can often effectively prolong extracranial disease control, making effective strategies to control central nervous system-based disease even more critical. We present a case of bulky leptomeningeal relapse of breast cancer in the setting of prior whole brain radiation therapy. In order to treat the patient's bulky disease and leptomeningeal spread while avoiding the potential toxicities of repeat whole brain radiation, the patient was treated with frameless stereotactic radiosurgery and intrathecal chemotherapy. This is the first report of this treatment approach for leptomeningeal relapse of breast cancer. The patient had an excellent response to treatment and durable intracranial control.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Louisville.
authors.forename: Matthew H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Bertke
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University of Louisville.
authors.forename: Eric C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Burton
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Louisville.
authors.forename: Joseph N
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Shaughnessy
keywords: breast cancer; intrathecal chemotherapy; leptomeningeal; reirradiation; stereotactic radiosurgery