Simultaneous primary cancer occurrence of melanoma and pulmonary adenocarcinoma in leptomeningeal metastases: a case report

Abstract

BackgroundLeptomeningeal metastasis (LM) is a predominantly late stage, devastating complication of a variety of malignant solid tumors. Diagnosis relies predominantly on neurological, radiographic, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) assessments. Recently, liquid biopsy tests derived from CSF has shown to be a feasible, noninvasive promising approach to tumor molecular profiling for proper brain cancer diagnostic treatment, thereby providing an opportunity for CSF-based personalized medicine. However, LM is typically misleadingly assumed to originate from only one primary tumor type.Case presentationIn this case report, we provide first evidence of the co-occurrence of LM originating from more than one primary tumor types.Discussion and conclusionsBased on this patient case profile, the co-occurrence of LM from two or more primary tumor types should be accounted for when deriving diagnostic conclusions from liquid biopsy tests.

Comparison of the diagnostic value of liquid biopsy in leptomeningeal metastases: A systematic review and meta-analysis

“…For patients with melanoma LM, studies have shown that CSF liquid biopsy has a fine diagnostic and evaluation ability for LM (14). In addition, in a case report of patient with simultaneous occurrence of LM from both a pulmonary adenocarcinoma and malignant melanoma, Stoppek et al confirmed the feasibility and diagnostic value of CSF liquid biopsy (34). Malignant tumors of the digestive tract, uterus, and ovary could also rarely metastasize to the brain (35).…”