Published online Jan 15, 2018. doi: 10.4251/wjgo.v10.i1.56
Peer-review started: July 26, 2017
First decision: September 11, 2017
Revised: November 28, 2017
Accepted: December 4, 2017
Article in press: December 4, 2017
Published online: January 15, 2018
Processing time: 171 Days and 15.5 Hours
Leptomeningeal carcinomatosis is a very rare manifestation in patients diagnosed with esophagogastric junction and gastric cancer. Its prognosis is ominous and therapy outcomes are disappointing. Herein, we present two patients; one initially diagnosed with gastric cancer and leptomeningeal carcinomatosis but no other evidence of metastatic disease and the other one initially diagnosed with esophagogastric junction cancer, who recurred solitary with leptomeningeal seedings several years after the initial diagnosis and treatment. Furthermore, a thorough and short review of the literature is carried out.
Core tip: Leptomeningeal carcinomatosis (LMC) is related with ominous prognosis and the median survival varies between a few weeks to months. Even LMC is extremely rare in patients diagnosed with esophagogastric junction and gastric cancer, physicians should be alerted when neurological symptoms occurred, are persistent and could not be explained. A single diagnosis test procedure itself is not absolutely sensitive and the investigation algorithm may comprise a gadolinium enhanced brain magnetic resonance imaging and cerebrospinal fluid cytology tests.