Leptomeningeal carcinomatosis following craniofacial resection of an ethmoid tumor.

Leptomeningeal carcinomatosis (LMC) is a rare complication following treatment for head and neck cancer. In this paper, we report a case of LMC following surgery and localized radiation therapy for an ethmoid carcinoma, in which laceration of the dura during craniofacial resection may have provided an access for cancer cells into the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). As a result, the patient developed LMC manifested as multiple spinal nerve root involvement. The patient died 3 months after the diagnosis of LMC. To avoid this type of complication, special care must be taken to prevent tears in the dura during craniofacial resection. Also, we recommend CSF examination be performed prior to radical surgery if there is any suspicion of meningeal invasion.