ASSOCIATION OF BREAST-CANCER AND MENINGIOMA REPORT OF 12 NEW CASES AND REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE

We report 12 new cases of female breast cancer associated with intracr anial meningiomas, inclusive of autopsy study. At the time of death th e patients' age ranged from S2 to 95 years (average 70.6 years). Breas t carcinomas were documented ante mortem in 11 cases and at autopsy in 1. Meningiomas were diagnosed at autopsy (1 0 cases) or in vivo (2 ca ses). The diagnosis of meningioma antedated that of mammary carcinoma in only one patient. Histologically, the cancers were of ductal (11 ca ses) and lobular infiltrating (1 case) types and showed a variable mal ignancy grade. Widespread extracranial metastases were present at auto psy in 7 cases. Brain metastases were seen in 1 case. Neurologic signs were referred in 4 subjects. Four breast cancers and one meningioma s howed immunoreactivity for progesterone receptors, whereas all the cas es were negative for estrogen receptors. In one case, metastatic breas t carcinoma tissue was present within a psammomatous meningioma. A bri ef review of the literature, which includes 14 similar observations, i s reported. Although the association of breast cancer and meningioma i s still difficult to explain, its clinical implications are important and deserve proper attention. A proper work up in patients with suspec ted intracranial metastases is recommended so that resectable meningio mas are not mistaken for metastases.