Intracranial Leptomeningeal Metastases of Malign Solid Tumors; Clinical and Magnetic Resonance Imaging Findings

We aimed to present clinical and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings of intracranial leptomeningeal metastases of malign solid tumors with literature.Between January 2015 and April 2018, 32 patients with histopathologically proven different primary solid malignancies and diagnosis of leptomeningeal metastases were included in this study. We retrospectively analyzed the clinical and contrast-enhanced MRI findings of patients. We documented demographic characteristics, primary malignancies, clinical and MRI findings. We evaluated localization and enhancement pattern of leptomeningeal metastases, cranial nerve involvement, presence of hydrocephalus and presence of subependymal nodule on MRI. The most common malign solid tumors with leptomeningeal metastases were lung (53.1%) and breast (25%) carcinomas. The most common presenting symptoms were headache and altered consciousness. Leptomeningeal metastases were mostly located in both infratentorial and supratentorial areas (50%).On contrast-enhanced MR images nodular enhancement pattern (53.1%) was mostly observed. Although cranial nerve involvement was rarely detected, cranial nerve involvement was most frequently observed in the 7th and 8th cranial nerves. Hydrocephalus (43.8%) and parenchymal metastasis (87.5%) were quite common. Knowledge of clinical and radiological imaging features in leptomeningeal metastases allows accurate diagnosis, appropriate treatment and disease management