Prostate Cancer Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Prostate Cancer, including details on symptoms, genetics, screening, treatment, information.

Leptomeningeal carcinomatosis in a patient with metastatic prostate cancer: case report and literature review.

Cone LA, Koochek K, Henager HA, Fausel R, Gade-Andavolu R, Potts BE, Jennings LM

Department of Medicine, Eisenhower Medical Center, Rancho Mirage, CA 92270, USA. laconemedico@aol.com

BACKGROUND: Leptomeningeal metastasis is discovered at autopsy in approximately 5% of patients with systemic cancer. Until recently with the introduction of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), premorbid diagnosis was extremely difficult. In particular, initial spinal fluid cytology is diagnostic in less than 50% of autopsy-verified patients, although repeated spinal fluid examinations may increase the yield significantly. Leptomeningeal metastasis in metastatic prostate cancer has been reported in only 14 patients previously. CASE DESCRIPTION: We recently studied such a patient and were able to establish a correct diagnosis based solely on the MRI and the presence of an elevated cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) prostate-specific antigen (PSA). Only 3 previous patients with leptomeningeal prostate metastasis have undergone CSF PSA evaluations. CONCLUSION: We believe that, in such patients, the combination of MRI and CSF studies can overcome the lack of sensitivity of CSF cytology.

Published 13 March 2006 in Surg Neurol, 65(4): 372-5, discussion 375-6.
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