Leptomeningeal metastasis (LM) is characterized by invasion
of the leptomeninges and subarachnoid space by neoplastic
cells. Although brain metastases are seen in 20-40% of systemic
cancer patients, leptomeningeal infiltration is rare and
interesting. LM occurs in approximately 5-11% of patients
with solid tumors. Most of these tumors originate from breast,
lung, and prostate cancer, melanoma, lymphoma, and leukemia.
Magnetic resonance imaging may be diagnostic when
subarachnoid nodules can be demonstrated in the head or
spine. The diagnosis is most commonly made by the cerebrospinal
fluid cytology. Treatment of LM is currently palliative
for most patients. Median survive is 4-6 months. In this paper,
we discuss four cases with LM sourced from lymphoma and
breast and prostate cancer, and we review the related literature.
Keywords: Lymphoma; leptomeningeal metastases; breast cancer; prostate cancer
