Meningitis carcinomatosa originating from an alpha fetoprotein-producing gastric cancer

Alpha fetoprotein (AFP)-producing gastric cancer is relatively rare and men ingitis carcinomatosa is similarly a rare manifestation among the neoplasti c diseases. There have been no previous reports of meningitis carcinomatosa originating from AFP-producing gastric cancer. A 68-year-old man with AFP- producing gastric cancer was treated with cisplatin and doxifluridine becau se of multiple liver metastases. Although the liver lesion was reduced to 3 0% of pretreatment size after 6 courses of chemotherapy, meningitis carcino matosa subsequently occurred. Immunostaining of AFP and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were useful in the diagnosis of meningitis caused by AFP prod ucing cancer cells.