Neoplastic meningitis

Neoplastic or malignant meningitis, also described with the older term meningitis carcinomatosa is the development of meningitis due to the infiltration of the subarachnoid space with cancer cells. The cancer cells can be metastatic or from a primary brain tumor like medulloblastoma.

Signs and symptoms

• headache
• stiff neck
• gait abnormalities
• Sensory changes
• cranial nerve abnormalities are a common symptom, and are manifested by double vision, facial asymmetry, hearing loss or vertigo
• Cognitive changes

Treatment

Radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and corticosteroids can be used.