Carcinomatous Meningitis Complicating Cervical Cancer: A Clinicopathologic Study and Literature Review

Diagnosis of Metastatic Tumors in Cerebrospinal Fluid Samples Using Thin-Layer Cytology

“…Four mechanisms have been suggested in order to clarify the pathways of metastasis: meningeal seeding from previous brain metastases, direct extension from subdural or extradural tumors, direct extension from sites outside but adjacent to the central CNS or hematogenous spread. 1 Assessment of the extent of the disease in the CNS is of value because large-volume subarachnoid disease or CSF flow obstruction is prognostically significant. 8 Changes in glycoprotein structure are thought to be responsible for metastases.…”

“…iffuse or multifocal seeding of the leptomeninges by metastatic cancer was first reported by Eberth in 1870, 1 and the term meningeal carcinomatosis (MC) was introduced by Beerman in 1912. 2 Today, it is a well-recognized entity that involves ~5% of patients with solid tumors.…”

“…The most commonly encountered metastatic neoplasm in CSF is adenocarcinoma, and the most frequent primary sites of origin are the lung (especially small cell carcinoma), breast, gastrointestinal system (especially stomach) and skin (melanoma). [1][2][3][4][5] Cytologic diagnosis is often problematic and difficult to establish by morphology alone. 6 Such problems render greater the necessity of advanced techniques that can minimize the sources of pitfalls.…”

“…2 It may occur rarely as the first evidence of a tumor, 2 and confirmation is provided mostly by cerebrospinal fluid cytology (CSF). 1,2 The latter is a useful technique, able to provide information concerning the staEarly diagnosis with CSF cytology and aggressive treatment can lead to prolonged survival in certain patients.…”

Methylation of the hTERT Promoter: A Novel Cancer Biomarker for Leptomeningeal Metastasis Detection in Cerebrospinal Fluids

“…Although almost any type of malignant disease can disseminate to the leptomeninges, leptomeningeal metastasis are mostly found in patients with hematologic malignancies and in solid tumors such as breast cancer, lung cancer, gastrointestinal cancer, and melanoma. The finding of malignant cells in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is essential for the diagnosis of leptomeningeal metastasis, and is the only examination that directly verifies the presence of malignancy in CSF (3). Because early treatment of leptomeningeal metastasis may prevent neurologic deterioration, it is important to establish the diagnosis as early as possible.…”