BACKGROUND: Dissemination of malignant gliomas is often observed, but the treatment of choice for leptomeningeal dissemination has not been established. CASE DESCRIPTIONS: A 55-year-old man suffered fatal hemorrhage 1 day after whole brain irradiation (2 Gy) along with intravenous administration of 150 mg of nitrosourea (ACNU) for leptomeningeal dissemination of glioblastoma. A 14-year-old boy suffered hemorrhage after intrathecal administration of 10 mg of methotrexate for recurrence of leptomeningeal dissemination of anaplastic astrocytoma 4 months after local brain irradiation and ACNU administration, and died 19 days later. CONCLUSION: Massive fatal hemorrhage is an unusual but possible acute complication after radiochemotherapy for leptomeningeal dissemination of gliomas.
BACKGROUND: Dissemination of malignant gliomas is often observed, but the treatment of choice for leptomeningeal dissemination has not been established. CASE DESCRIPTIONS: A 55-year-old man suffered fatal hemorrhage 1 day after whole brain irradiation (2 Gy) along with intravenous administration of 150 mg of nitrosourea (ACNU) for leptomeningeal dissemination of glioblastoma. A 14-year-old boy suffered hemorrhage after intrathecal administration of 10 mg of methotrexate for recurrence of leptomeningeal dissemination of anaplastic astrocytoma 4 months after local brain irradiation and ACNU administration, and died 19 days later. CONCLUSION: Massive fatal hemorrhage is an unusual but possible acute complication after radiochemotherapy for leptomeningeal dissemination of gliomas.