Primary leptomeningeal sarcomatosis. Case report.

This report describes a case of primary leptomeningeal sarcomatosis in a 50-year-old man who presented with progressive deficits involving multiple cranial nerves and spinal roots. Despite the clinical evidence supporting a diffuse process involving the leptomeninges, radiological, serological, and cerebrospinal fluid examinations failed to reveal the cause of the disorder. Consequently, surgical exploration and biopsy were required to obtain a pathological diagnosis. This case report illustrates the difficulty in diagnosing this disease and supports the use of open biopsy in patients with chronic meningeal disease when the diagnosis cannot be established by less invasive methods.