Novel anterior brainstem magnetic resonance imaging findings in non-small cell lung cancer with leptomeningeal carcinomatosis

Chun Yu Cheng, Chia Yu Hsu, Yuan Hsiung Tsai, Kuang Lin Lin, Cih En Huang, Yi Hong Fan, Shy Chyi Chin, Yen Chu Huang*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal Article peer-review

7 Scopus citations

Abstract

Leptomeningeal carcinomatosis (LC) is found in around 4% of patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The most common radiological finding of LC is diffuse leptomeningeal enhancement on contrast-enhanced brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Herein, we report a novel brain MRI finding-non-enhanced, band-like, symmetric restricted diffusion along the anterior surface of the brainstem-of LC in four patients with NSCLC. We also identified three additional cases with similar MRI findings in a literature review. We hypothesized that the restricted diffusion along the anterior brainstem was caused by malignant cells concentrating in the cistern around the brainstem and infiltrating into the circumferential perforating arteries along the anterior brainstem surface, which then resulted in microinfarctions.

Original languageEnglish
Article number579
JournalFrontiers in Neurology
Volume8
Issue numberOCT
DOIs
StatePublished - 31 10 2017

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2017 Cheng, Hsu, Tsai, Lin, Huang, Fan, Chin and Huang.

Keywords

  • Brain magnetic resonance imaging
  • Brainstem
  • Leptomeningeal carcinomatosis
  • Lung cancer
  • Restrictive diffusion

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Novel anterior brainstem magnetic resonance imaging findings in non-small cell lung cancer with leptomeningeal carcinomatosis'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this