Two Cases of Meningeal Carcinomatosis Associated with Lung Cancer using Ommaya Reservoir — Compared with 5 Cases without using It —

Abstract

Meningeal carcinomatosis (MC) associated with lung cancer is considered to have a poor prognosis. We presented two cases of MC associated with lung cancer (adenocarcinoma) treated with repeated intraventricular injection of methotrexate via Ommaya reservoir. They did not lose consciousness and died of other complications caused by lung cancer. The survival time after diagnosis of MC was 168 and 56 days, respectively. On the other hand, 5 cases of MC associated with lung cancer (3 with adenocarcinoma and 2 with small cell carcinoma) which were not treated with Ommaya reservoir rapidly became unconscious and died. The survival time of these five cases ranged from 9 to 21 days (mean 16 days). No serious complications were caused by the reservoir. At the diagnosis of MC, all seven cases had metastasis to sites other than the meninges. The Ommaya reservoir therefore appears useful for the treatment of MC, when the other metastatic sites are under control. © 1993, The Japan Lung Cancer Society. All rights reserved.