Leptomeningeal metastasis of pulmonary large-cell neuroendocrine carcinoma: A case report and review of the literature

  • Authors:
    • Guozi Yang
    • Zhenyu Pan
    • Ning Ma
    • Limei Qu
    • Tingting Yuan
    • Xiaochuan Pang
    • Xu Yang
    • Lihua Dong
    • Shixin Liu
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: July 26, 2017     https://doi.org/10.3892/ol.2017.6676
  • Pages: 4282-4286
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Abstract

Pulmonary large-cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (LCNEC) is a rare and malignant form of lung cancer with a poor prognosis for patients. The common sites of metastases are the liver, adrenal glands, bone and brain. LCNEC rarely metastasizes to the small intestine, ovaries, tonsils, mandible, vulva or spine. To the best of our knowledge, there have been no reports of leptomeningeal metastasis of LCNEC to date. The present case report describes an unusual case of leptomeningeal metastasis from pulmonary LCNEC alongside a review of the literature. Biopsies of pulmonary lesions and cervical lymph nodes confirmed the diagnosis of LCNEC in a 39‑year‑old male patient. At 2 months after chemotherapy, the patient began to experience hoarseness, epileptic seizures and blurred vision. Furthermore, the patient presented with radiating pain and numbness in his lower left limb. Imaging findings and cytological examination of cerebral spinal fluid supported the diagnosis of leptomeningeal metastasis. The patient's neurological symptoms were markedly alleviated following receipt of radiation and intrathecal chemotherapy. The patient survived for 4.9 months after diagnosis with leptomeningeal metastasis. To the best of our knowledge, the present case report is the first to describe leptomeningeal metastasis from pulmonary LCNEC confirmed by neuroimaging and cerebral spinal fluid cytology. It suggests that leptomeningeal metastasis does occur in this rare disease, and aggressive treatment may result in improved symptoms and possibly survival times.
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October-2017
Volume 14 Issue 4

Print ISSN: 1792-1074
Online ISSN:1792-1082

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Spandidos Publications style
Yang G, Pan Z, Ma N, Qu L, Yuan T, Pang X, Yang X, Dong L and Liu S: Leptomeningeal metastasis of pulmonary large-cell neuroendocrine carcinoma: A case report and review of the literature. Oncol Lett 14: 4282-4286, 2017
APA
Yang, G., Pan, Z., Ma, N., Qu, L., Yuan, T., Pang, X. ... Liu, S. (2017). Leptomeningeal metastasis of pulmonary large-cell neuroendocrine carcinoma: A case report and review of the literature. Oncology Letters, 14, 4282-4286. https://doi.org/10.3892/ol.2017.6676
MLA
Yang, G., Pan, Z., Ma, N., Qu, L., Yuan, T., Pang, X., Yang, X., Dong, L., Liu, S."Leptomeningeal metastasis of pulmonary large-cell neuroendocrine carcinoma: A case report and review of the literature". Oncology Letters 14.4 (2017): 4282-4286.
Chicago
Yang, G., Pan, Z., Ma, N., Qu, L., Yuan, T., Pang, X., Yang, X., Dong, L., Liu, S."Leptomeningeal metastasis of pulmonary large-cell neuroendocrine carcinoma: A case report and review of the literature". Oncology Letters 14, no. 4 (2017): 4282-4286. https://doi.org/10.3892/ol.2017.6676