Cytological features of CSF in 68 patients with meningeal carcinomatosis

Objective To investigate the value of cerebrospinal fluid(CSF) examinations in diagnosing meningeal carcinomatosis. Methods The clinical data in 68 patients with meningeal carcinomatosis were analyzes retrospectively. Results The clinical menifestations of 68 patients were characterized by headache ,nausea and vomit ,meningeal irritation sign. MRI enhancement scanning found abnomally mater enhancement only in 15 cases. Cerebrospinal pressure increased in all cases.Cell population of CSF in moderate-severe dipth increased in 45 cases,in which the most cells were activated monocytes.All the 68 cases found tumor cells in cytological examination of CSF. Conclusion The clinical features and imaging results of meningeal carcinomatosis lack specificity.CSF examination ,especially cytological examination of CSF is a reliable diagnosing method for this disease.And repeating cytological examination can enhance the diagnostic accuracy.