Leptomeningeal metastases from prostate cancer: an emerging clinical conundrum

Clin Exp Metastasis. 2010;27(1):19-23. doi: 10.1007/s10585-009-9298-z. Epub 2009 Nov 11.

Abstract

Leptomeningeal metastases from solid tumors are relatively uncommon events with dismal prognosis. They can be seen mainly in patients with breast and lung cancer, and malignant melanoma, but have also been described in a variety of other tumor types. Leptomeningeal carcinomatosis from prostate cancer is an extremely rare complication, but as patients' survival is prolonged due to more effective treatments, it is expected that more patients will present with leptomeningeal involvement in advanced stages of the disease. In these cases high levels of prostate-specific antigen can be found in the cerebrospinal fluid. This comprehensive review presents the recent findings from the literature.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Humans
  • Male
  • Meningeal Carcinomatosis / cerebrospinal fluid
  • Meningeal Carcinomatosis / secondary*
  • Prostate-Specific Antigen / cerebrospinal fluid
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / pathology*

Substances

  • Prostate-Specific Antigen