Linked Life Data

10938191

Source:http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/id/10938191

Statements in which the resource exists as a subject.
PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
2
pubmed:dateCreated
2000-11-6
pubmed:abstractText
Meningeal carcinomatosis occurs in 1%-5% of patients with breast cancer. Early diagnosis and aggressive treatment of neurologic involvement are important factors of prognosis. We report a case of a 52-year-old woman who was affected by bilateral breast carcinoma treated with surgery and chemotherapy. Six years after she had become asymptomatic, X-rays showed lumbar spine metastases which were treated with radiotherapy. After 1 year she began to suffer from lower limb paresthesias, unsteadiness and unstable gait. Clinical examination showed lower limb sensory ataxia with lack of knee and ankle reflexes, and hypopallesthesia from the iliac spine to the foot. Spinal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with contrast agent revealed no medullar compression. Electromyography disclosed bilateral involvement of L4-L5-S1 roots and corresponding paraspinal muscles. Sensory and motor conductions were normal. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) examination showed the presence of neoplastic cells, confirming the diagnosis of meningeal carcinomatosis. Our patient underwent 9 cycles of intrathecal methotrexate therapy (25 mg/cycle) with improvement of ataxia and relief of paresthesias. One year later, CSF examination is still negative. We point out the importance of electrodiagnostic studies and CSF examination in the early documentation of root involvement in cancer patients, when computed tomography, MRI and myelography are normal. Early diagnosis may lead to effective therapy which prolongs survival.
pubmed:commentsCorrections
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
IM
pubmed:chemical
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:month
Apr
pubmed:issn
1590-1874
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Print
pubmed:volume
21
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
113-5
pubmed:dateRevised
2004-11-17
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed:year
2000
pubmed:articleTitle
Multiple radiculopathy of the lower limbs in a cancer patient with meningeal carcinomatosis.
pubmed:affiliation
Department of Neurology, Legnago Hospital, Italy.
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article, Case Reports