Table of contents
Leptomeningeal metastasis
What's new
Added 2023 EANO/ESMO and 2023 NCCN guidelines for the diagnosis and management of leptomeningeal metastasis.
Guidelines
Key sources
The following summarized guidelines for the evaluation and management of leptomeningeal metastasis are prepared by our editorial team based on guidelines from the European Association of Neuro-Oncology (EANO/ESMO 2023) and the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN 2023)....
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Classification and risk stratification
Classification
As per EANO/ESMO 2023 guidelines:
Classify leptomeningeal metastasis based on clinical, imaging, and CSF cytology assessments.
B
Use standardized diagnostic criteria to define cohorts of patients with leptomeningeal metastasis.
B
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Risk assessment
Diagnostic investigations
Indications for testing
As per EANO/ESMO 2023 guidelines:
Suspect leptomeningeal metastasis particularly in patients with breast cancer, lung cancer, or melanoma presenting with neurological symptoms or signs.
B
Suspect leptomeningeal metastasis in patients with typical clinical signs of leptomeningeal metastasis, such as headache, nausea and vomiting, mental changes, gait difficulties, cranial nerve palsies with diplopia, visual disturbances, hearing loss, sensorimotor deficits of extremities and cauda equina syndrome, radicular, neck and back pain, especially in the presence of cancer.
B
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Neurological examination
Diagnostic imaging
Diagnostic procedures
Lumbar puncture
As per EANO/ESMO 2023 guidelines:
Obtain CSF analysis using optimized analysis conditions in the evaluation of patients with suspected leptomeningeal metastasis.
B
Perform a repeat lumbar puncture with optimized analysis conditions in patients with suspected leptomeningeal metastasis and initial negative or equivocal cytological CSF results.
B
Medical management
Systemic therapy: as per EANO/ESMO 2023 guidelines, Consider offering systemic pharmacotherapy based on the primary tumor and previous treatments in most patients with type B/C leptomeningeal metastasis.
C
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Clinical trials
Therapeutic procedures
Intra-CSF therapy
As per EANO/ESMO 2023 guidelines:
Consider offering intra-CSF pharmacotherapy in patients with type IA/C leptomeningeal metastasis.
C
Administer intra-CSF chemotherapy via the ventricular rather than lumbar route whenever feasible.
B
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Radiotherapy