Leptomeningeal metastasis as initial manifestation of signet ring colorectal adenocarcinoma: a case report with review of literature

Leptomeningeal Metastasis Mimicking a Subacute Epidural Hematoma: Case Report

Leptomeningeal carcinomatosis is extremely rare in colorectal adenocarcinoma, its incidence is far less than 1%. The neurological symptoms are pleomorphic. The most common symptoms included Headache, ataxia, cranial nerve palsies, meningismus, focal weakness or numbness. MRI is the most sensitive and specific imaging method for screening, positive diagnosis and pre-treatment of leptomeningeal carcinomatosis. The presence of appropriate neuroimaging abnormalities in a patient with typical clinical features and history of colorectal adenocarcinoma enables to make the diagnosis of leptomeningeal metastases. As well as a biological confirmation is necessary. Treatment usually comprises site-specific radiation therapy in addition to intrathecal and systemic chemotherapy. The case aims to describe the MRI characteristics of leptomeningeal metastases so as to formulate the diagnosis and the subsequent treatment.

Nonbacterial Thrombotic Endocarditis With Leptomeningeal Carcinomatosis: A Rare Presentation of Advanced Rectal Adenocarcinoma

Nonbacterial thrombotic endocarditis (NBTE) is a rare condition characterized by the formation of sterile vegetations on valvular structures. Commonly asymptomatic in early stages resulting in systemic emboli as its initial manifestation. NBTE is found to be associated with diseases, which induce hypercoagulability, and, most commonly, is associated with malignancy. Rectal signet ring cell adenocarcinoma is an uncommon histological type of rectal cancer with a poor prognosis and aggressive nature. We present a rare manifestation of advanced rectal signet cell adenocarcinoma discovered due to manifestations of NBTE and leptomeningeal carcinomatosis.

Simultaneous primary cancer occurrence of melanoma and pulmonary adenocarcinoma in leptomeningeal metastases: a case report

Background

Leptomeningeal metastasis (LM) is a predominantly late stage, devastating complication of a variety of malignant solid tumors. Diagnosis relies predominantly on neurological, radiographic, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) assessments. Recently, liquid biopsy tests derived from CSF has shown to be a feasible, noninvasive promising approach to tumor molecular profiling for proper brain cancer diagnostic treatment, thereby providing an opportunity for CSF-based personalized medicine. However, LM is typically misleadingly assumed to originate from only one primary tumor type.

Case presentation

In this case report, we provide first evidence of the co-occurrence of LM originating from more than one primary tumor types.

Discussion and conclusions

Based on this patient case profile, the co-occurrence of LM from two or more primary tumor types should be accounted for when deriving diagnostic conclusions from liquid biopsy tests.

Anorectal Cancer with Bone Marrow and Leptomeningeal Metastases

This is an interesting case of anorectal signet ring carcinoma with first presentation of an early stage disease, showing the aggressive disease and the undetectable behavior of this type of histology which can mislead diagnosis. Brain/CNS metastasis from colorectal cancer (CRC) is rare occurring in 3% of cases, and leptomeningeal carcinomatosis (LMC) is extremely rare in CRC (<0.02%). Symptoms and signs of LMC are pleomorphic and may be localized to three compartments: cerebral hemispheres, cranial nerves, and spinal cords and roots. Treatment of metastatic rectal cancer has been improving over the last few years with a lot of changes toward longer survival and improvement in quality of life and to change the disease into a chronic condition. However, in our case, the overall survival from the onset of LMC was 3 weeks only. Revising the evidence in the treatment of signet ring histology of rectal cancer, there is no specific treatment recommendation that is for this histology and for such very aggressive behavior which could be considered as a separate entity to the classic adenocarcinoma histology.

Intracranial hypertension as the primary symptom of gastric signet-ring cell carcinoma: A case report and literature review

BACKGROUND

Intracranial hypertension (IH) is a neurological disorder characterized by increased intracranial pressure. It is a poorly understood syndrome that most commonly manifests nonspecific symptoms such as stroke-like headache, vision changes, nausea, vomiting, and papilledema. IH has been reported in young cancer patients but never in association with gastric signet-ring cell carcinoma.

METHODS

Here, we discuss the case of an 18-year-old girl with gastric signet-ring cell carcinoma in which IH was the primary symptom accompanied by the even rarer symptom of cutaneous metastases. We also present a review of the relevant literature. The patient experienced frequent headaches, vomiting, and blurred vision but showed no abnormal findings on cranial imaging studies. Further examination showed multiple skin nodules on the abdomen. Then pathological and immunohistochemical examination of gastroscopic specimens and the biopsied subcutaneous nodules were done.

RESULTS

Pathological and immunohistochemical examination of gastroscopic specimens and the biopsied subcutaneous nodules confirmed gastric signet-ring cell carcinoma with skin metastases.

CONCLUSION

To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of gastric signet-ring cell carcinoma primarily presenting IH and accompanied by subcutaneous metastases. This case emphasizes the importance of excluding malignancy from the differential diagnosis of IH.