Skip to the main content

Case report

Isolated vestibular dysfunction as an initial manifestation of leptomeningeal carcinomatosis due to breast cancer – A case report

Gordana Sičaja
Marija Ernoić
Hrvoje Budinčević


Full text: english pdf 224 Kb

page 84-87

downloads: 355

cite

Full text: croatian pdf 224 Kb

page 84-87

downloads: 231

cite


Abstract

Leptomeningeal carcinomatosis is an uncommon complication of different types of cancer in which the disease spreads to meninges. It usually presents with clinical features of meningeal irritation, combined with cranial nerve involvement. This report aims to describe vestibular dysfunction as one of the possible and infrequent initial signs of leptomeningeal carcinomatosis. We present a case of a 49-year-old female that has been previously diagnosed breast cancer who developed bilateral vestibular dysfunction due to leptomeningeal carcinomatosis. Leptomeningeal carcinomatosis can be variable in its presentation since any aspect of the nervous system can be affected. Multiple cranial nerve involve- ment isn’t rare, with most commonly affected third, fifth and seventh cranial nerve (5). In our case, the patient presented with the symptoms of isolated vestibular dysfunction with preserved cochlear part
of the nerve. This can be explained by the possible way of propagation of malignant cells via endolym- phatic ductus into the inner ear with the obliterated connection between sacculus and cochlea.

Keywords

leptomeningeal carcinomatosis; isolated vestibular dysfunction; breast cancer

Hrčak ID:

248906

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/248906

Publication date:

15.12.2020.

Article data in other languages: croatian

Visits: 1.839 *