Spread of malignant tumor through subarachnoid spaces of brain and spine
IMAGING
General Features
CT Findings
MR Findings
Nonvascular Interventions
Imaging Recommendations
Nuclear Medicine Findings
DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS
PATHOLOGY
General Features
Microscopic Features
CLINICAL ISSUES
Presentation
Demographics
Natural History & Prognosis
Treatment
DIAGNOSTIC CHECKLIST
Consider
Image Interpretation Pearls
Selected References
Diaz-Aguilar D et al: Simultaneous cerebrospinal fluid and hematologic metastases in a high-grade ependymoma. Surg Neurol Int. 9:93, 2018
Tanaka H et al: Embryonal brain tumor with unknown primary lesion and massive cerebrospinal fluid dissemination: a case report. J Clin Neurosci. 54:125-8, 2018
Utz MJ et al: Contrast-enhanced 3-dimensional fluid-attenuated inversion recovery sequences have greater sensitivity for detection of leptomeningeal metastases in pediatric brain tumors compared with conventional spoiled gradient echo sequences. J Pediatr Hematol Oncol. 40(4):316-9, 2018
Yao H et al: Leukaemia hijacks a neural mechanism to invade the central nervous system. Nature. 560(7716):55-60, 2018
Kralik SF et al: Radiological diagnosis of drop metastases from paediatric brain tumours using combination of 2D and 3D MRI sequences. Clin Radiol. 72(10):902.e13-902.e19, 2017
Alvarez de Eulate-Beramendi S et al: Delayed leptomeningeal and subependymal seeding after multiple surgeries for supratentorial diffuse low-grade gliomas in adults. J Neurosurg. 120(4):833-9, 2014
Chamberlain M et al: Leptomeningeal metastasis: a response assessment in neuro-oncology critical review of endpoints and response criteria of published randomized clinical trials. Neuro Oncol. 16(9):1176-85, 2014
Knafo S et al: Intradural extramedullary spinal metastases of non-neurogenic origin: a distinct clinical entity or a subtype of leptomeningeal metastasis? A case-control study. Neurosurgery. 73(6):923-31; discussion 932, 2013
Scott BJ et al: Leptomeningeal metastases in breast cancer. Am J Cancer Res. 3(2):117-26, 2013
Lawton CD et al: Leptomeningeal spinal metastases from glioblastoma multiforme: treatment and management of an uncommon manifestation of disease. J Neurosurg Spine. 17(5):438-48, 2012
Lindsay A et al: Spinal leptomeningeal metastases following glioblastoma multiforme treated with radiotherapy. J Clin Neurosci. 9(6):725-8, 2002
Singh SK et al: MR imaging of leptomeningeal metastases: comparison of three sequences. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 23(5):817-21, 2002
Collie DA et al: Imaging features of leptomeningeal metastases. Clin Radiol. 54(11):765-71, 1999
Straathof CS et al: The diagnostic accuracy of magnetic resonance imaging and cerebrospinal fluid cytology in leptomeningeal metastasis. J Neurol. 246(9):810-4, 1999
van der Ree TC et al: Leptomeningeal metastasis after surgical resection of brain metastases. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 66(2):225-7, 1999
Formaglio F et al: Meningeal metastases: clinical aspects and diagnosis. Ital J Neurol Sci. 19(3): 133-49, 1998
Gomori JM et al: Leptomeningeal metastases: evaluation by gadolinium enhanced spinal magnetic resonance imaging. J Neurooncol. 36(1):55-60, 1998
Kallmes DF et al: High-dose gadolinium-enhanced MRI for diagnosis of meningeal metastases. Neuroradiology. 40(1):23-6, 1998
Chamberlain MC et al: Carcinomatous meningitis secondary to breast cancer: predictors of response to combined modality therapy. J Neurooncol. 35(1):55-64, 1997
Freilich RJ et al: Neuroimaging and cerebrospinal fluid cytology in the diagnosis of leptomeningeal metastasis. Ann Neurol. 38(1):51-7, 1995
Glantz MJ et al: Diagnosis, management, and survival of patients with leptomeningeal cancer based on cerebrospinal fluid-flow status. Cancer. 75(12):2919-31, 1995
Heinz R et al: Detection of cerebrospinal fluid metastasis: CT myelography or MR? AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 16(5):1147-51, 1995
Chua SL et al: Magnetic resonance imaging of leptomeningeal metastases to the spine. Singapore Med J. 34(3): 253-6, 1993
Watanabe M et al: Correlation of MRI and clinical features in meningeal carcinomatosis. Neuroradiology. 35(7):512-5, 1993
Lossos A et al: Spinal subarachnoid hemorrhage associated with leptomeningeal metastases. J Neurooncol. 12(2):167-71, 1992
Schuknecht B et al: Spinal leptomeningeal neoplastic disease. Evaluation by MR, myelography and CT myelography. Eur Neurol. 32(1):11-6, 1992
Davis PC et al: Leptomeningeal metastasis: MR imaging. Radiology. 163(2):449-54, 1987
Freeman CR et al: Primary malignant lymphoma of the central nervous system. Cancer. 58(5):1106-11, 1986
Weissman DE et al: Simultaneous leptomeningeal and intramedullary spinal metastases in small cell lung carcinoma. Med Pediatr Oncol. 14(1):54-6, 1986
Related Anatomy
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Related Differential Diagnoses
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References
Tables
Tables
KEY FACTS
Terminology
Imaging
Top Differential Diagnoses
Pathology
Clinical Issues
Diagnostic Checklist
TERMINOLOGY
Synonyms
Leptomeningeal carcinomatosis
Carcinomatous meningitis
Neoplastic meningitis
Drop metastases
Definitions
Spread of malignant tumor through subarachnoid spaces of brain and spine
IMAGING
General Features
CT Findings
MR Findings
Nonvascular Interventions
Imaging Recommendations
Nuclear Medicine Findings
DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS
PATHOLOGY
General Features
Microscopic Features
CLINICAL ISSUES
Presentation
Demographics
Natural History & Prognosis
Treatment
DIAGNOSTIC CHECKLIST
Consider
Image Interpretation Pearls
Selected References
Diaz-Aguilar D et al: Simultaneous cerebrospinal fluid and hematologic metastases in a high-grade ependymoma. Surg Neurol Int. 9:93, 2018
Tanaka H et al: Embryonal brain tumor with unknown primary lesion and massive cerebrospinal fluid dissemination: a case report. J Clin Neurosci. 54:125-8, 2018
Utz MJ et al: Contrast-enhanced 3-dimensional fluid-attenuated inversion recovery sequences have greater sensitivity for detection of leptomeningeal metastases in pediatric brain tumors compared with conventional spoiled gradient echo sequences. J Pediatr Hematol Oncol. 40(4):316-9, 2018
Yao H et al: Leukaemia hijacks a neural mechanism to invade the central nervous system. Nature. 560(7716):55-60, 2018
Kralik SF et al: Radiological diagnosis of drop metastases from paediatric brain tumours using combination of 2D and 3D MRI sequences. Clin Radiol. 72(10):902.e13-902.e19, 2017
Alvarez de Eulate-Beramendi S et al: Delayed leptomeningeal and subependymal seeding after multiple surgeries for supratentorial diffuse low-grade gliomas in adults. J Neurosurg. 120(4):833-9, 2014
Chamberlain M et al: Leptomeningeal metastasis: a response assessment in neuro-oncology critical review of endpoints and response criteria of published randomized clinical trials. Neuro Oncol. 16(9):1176-85, 2014
Knafo S et al: Intradural extramedullary spinal metastases of non-neurogenic origin: a distinct clinical entity or a subtype of leptomeningeal metastasis? A case-control study. Neurosurgery. 73(6):923-31; discussion 932, 2013
Scott BJ et al: Leptomeningeal metastases in breast cancer. Am J Cancer Res. 3(2):117-26, 2013
Lawton CD et al: Leptomeningeal spinal metastases from glioblastoma multiforme: treatment and management of an uncommon manifestation of disease. J Neurosurg Spine. 17(5):438-48, 2012
Lindsay A et al: Spinal leptomeningeal metastases following glioblastoma multiforme treated with radiotherapy. J Clin Neurosci. 9(6):725-8, 2002
Singh SK et al: MR imaging of leptomeningeal metastases: comparison of three sequences. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 23(5):817-21, 2002
Collie DA et al: Imaging features of leptomeningeal metastases. Clin Radiol. 54(11):765-71, 1999
Straathof CS et al: The diagnostic accuracy of magnetic resonance imaging and cerebrospinal fluid cytology in leptomeningeal metastasis. J Neurol. 246(9):810-4, 1999
van der Ree TC et al: Leptomeningeal metastasis after surgical resection of brain metastases. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 66(2):225-7, 1999
Formaglio F et al: Meningeal metastases: clinical aspects and diagnosis. Ital J Neurol Sci. 19(3): 133-49, 1998
Gomori JM et al: Leptomeningeal metastases: evaluation by gadolinium enhanced spinal magnetic resonance imaging. J Neurooncol. 36(1):55-60, 1998
Kallmes DF et al: High-dose gadolinium-enhanced MRI for diagnosis of meningeal metastases. Neuroradiology. 40(1):23-6, 1998
Chamberlain MC et al: Carcinomatous meningitis secondary to breast cancer: predictors of response to combined modality therapy. J Neurooncol. 35(1):55-64, 1997
Freilich RJ et al: Neuroimaging and cerebrospinal fluid cytology in the diagnosis of leptomeningeal metastasis. Ann Neurol. 38(1):51-7, 1995
Glantz MJ et al: Diagnosis, management, and survival of patients with leptomeningeal cancer based on cerebrospinal fluid-flow status. Cancer. 75(12):2919-31, 1995
Heinz R et al: Detection of cerebrospinal fluid metastasis: CT myelography or MR? AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 16(5):1147-51, 1995
Chua SL et al: Magnetic resonance imaging of leptomeningeal metastases to the spine. Singapore Med J. 34(3): 253-6, 1993
Watanabe M et al: Correlation of MRI and clinical features in meningeal carcinomatosis. Neuroradiology. 35(7):512-5, 1993
Lossos A et al: Spinal subarachnoid hemorrhage associated with leptomeningeal metastases. J Neurooncol. 12(2):167-71, 1992
Schuknecht B et al: Spinal leptomeningeal neoplastic disease. Evaluation by MR, myelography and CT myelography. Eur Neurol. 32(1):11-6, 1992