ABSTRACT
Leptomeningeal carcinomatosis (LC) is a rare complication of primary malignancy that spreads to leptomeninges and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Due to its rarity, it is often diagnosed as a late complication of an advanced tumor. This report presents a case study of a 72-year-old nonsmoking female with multiple comorbidities with two-week rapidly progressive cognitive decline and extrapyramidal symptoms (EPS). She presented with speech difficulties, tension headaches, and episodes of inattention. On examination, she had a masked face, mild bradykinesia, mild rigidity more apparent in the limbs than axially, and slight hyperreflexia in the lower limbs with a normal plantar reflex (down-going). Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain with gadolinium showed diffuse leptomeningeal dissemination. CT of the right lower lobe showed lobe apical segment mass lesion with air bronchogram extension to the hilum, which raised the suspicion that the patient had lung cancer. The microscopic analysis of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) cytology showed poorly differentiated malignant cells favoring adenocarcinoma. Based on these investigations, leptomeningeal dissemination on the MRI led to a wide differential diagnosis; however, given the findings in the CT scan and CSF, the patient was diagnosed with leptomeningeal carcinomatosis secondary to metastatic lung cancer. Although LC is a rare terminal complication that presents with a wide range of symptoms, typically including headache, altered mental status, diplopia, back pain, cerebral signs, and leg weakness, our patient presented with an uncommon presentation, which was EPS. Therefore, this case report highlights the importance of early detection of LC in any patient presenting with unspecific neurological manifestations.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Accurate pathological diagnosis is the first critical step in the management of lung cancer. This step is important to determine the histological subtype of the cancer and to identify any actionable targets. Our study aimed at evaluating the patterns of procedures used to obtain pathological diagnosis of lung cancer in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Region. METHODS: Data of consecutive patients with the diagnosis of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) were collected from participating centers from different countries in the MENA Region. Methods of obtaining tissue diagnosis and workup were analyzed to determine the practice patterns of obtaining tissue diagnosis of lung cancer. RESULTS: A total of 566 patients were recruited from 10 centers in 5 countries including Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Qatar, Lebanon and Algeria. Majority of patients were males (78.1%) with a median age of 61 years (range, 22-89 years). Obtaining tissue diagnosis was successful in the first attempt in 72.3% of patients, while 16.4% and 6.3% of patients required 2nd and 3rd attempt, respectively. The success in first attempt was as follows: image guided biopsy (91%), surgical biopsy (88%), endobronchial biopsy (79%) and cytology (30%). The success in the second attempt was as follows; surgical biopsy (100%), image guided biopsy (95%), endobronchial biopsy (65%), cytology (25%). CONCLUSIONS: More than quarter of the patients required repeated biopsy in the MENA Region. Image guided biopsy has the highest initial yield. Implementing clear process and multidisciplinary guidelines about the selection of diagnostic procedures is needed.
