[Diffuse lower motor neuron disease in a carcinomatous meningitis].

INTRODUCTION

Between 4 and 15% of solid cancers are associated with carcinomatous meningitis ant its unfavorable prognosis. The clinical presentation of neoplastic meningitis typically associates cerebral signs, cranial nerve involvement, and medullary or radicular symptoms.

OBSERVATION: We report a case of a 58-year-old woman, with a history of breast cancer in remission since 8 years, who presented an acute paraparesia and a pure motor deficit of the left arm. This diffuse lower motor neuron disease was the inaugural sign of carcinomatous meningitis.

CONCLUSION

The diagnosis of cacinomatous meningitis is based on medullar MRI and lumbar puncture. In same cases, clinical signs are limited to a pure diffuse lower motor neuron disease.