P. Oschmann et al., MENINGEAL CARCINOMATOSIS - CSF CYTOLOGY, IMMUNOCYTOCHEMISTRY AND BIOCHEMICAL TUMOR-MARKERS, Acta neurologica Scandinavica, 89(5), 1994, pp. 395-399
CSF cytology, immunocytochemistry and biochemical tumor markers were c
ompared in 12 patients with a meningeal carcinomatosis regarding diagn
ostic significance and therapy control; 50 samples were investigated.
Cytology was tumor-positive in 39 samples and immunocytochemistry in 4
5 samples. Intrathecally produced tumor markers were found in 47 sampl
es. On initial examination only immunocytochemical testing correctly c
lassified all cases. Cytology and biochemical tumor markers revealed p
ositive results in 10 respectively 11 of 12 patients, combined use of
these two methods would increase the sensitivity to 100%. On follow-up
examination tumor markers correlated best with symptoms and were earl
y indicators for clinical relapse. These results could be achieved onl
y if several monoclonal antibodies and biochemical tumor marker tests
were combined. It is concluded that immunocytochemistry and biochemica
l tumor markers are of major help regarding the problems of false-nega
tive cytology and reliable therapy control in meningeal carcinomatosis
.