RESUMEN

Objective To investigate the significance of intraventricular metastasis in the diagnosis of leptomeningeal metastasis from lung cancer.Methods Nineteen lung cancer patients with intraventricular metastasis,admitted to and confirmed by brain MRI in our hospital from May 2010 to December 2012,were selected in our study.All of the patients accepted cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)examination.The clinical and imaging findings and CSF examination results were analyzed.Results All 19 patients had cerebral parenehyma metastasis; the lesions of 16 patients located in the lateral ventricle,4 in the third ventricle and 8 in the fourth ventricle and aquaeductus cerebra; 9 patients had 2 metastatic lesions of intraventricular,which were disseminated.According to the disease history,imaging manifestation,clinical features and CSF examination results,13 patients (68％) were diagnosed with leptomeningeal metastasis.Conclusions Referring to the mechanism of leptomeningeal metastasis and imaging findings,intraventricular metastasis can lead to leptomeningeal metastasis; while tumor cells implantation caused by leptomeningeal metastasis can also form intraventricular metastasis.Therefore,intraventricular metastasis has the suggestive role for the diagnosis of leptomeningeal metastasis from lung cancer; intraventricular metastasis is one of the imaging characteristics in leptomeningeal metastasis from lung cancer.