CARCINOMATOUS MENINGITIS - CLINICAL MANIFESTATIONS AND MANAGEMENT

Carcinomatous meningitis (CM) is a cause of significant morbidity and mortality in patients with cancer. During the past 15 years, diffuse l eptomeningeal metastases of extracranial malignant tumors have been in creasingly reported [Wasserstrom et al. 1982, Theodore and Gendelman 1 981, Little et al. 1974, Olson et al. 1974, Yaphey et al. 1978, Sorens en et al. 1984], CM is increasing in frequency because of improved sur vival of patients with systemic anti neoplastic therapies and increase d awareness of this problem among physicians. In this review, we will be discussing the epidemiology, etiology, pathology, pathophysiology, clinical manifestations, diagnosis and management of carcinomatous men ingitis, as well as the status of recent basic and clinical investigat ions.