Efficacy of radiotherapy on carcinomatous meningitis in 42 patients

Objective: To investigate the efficacy of radiotherapy on carcinomatous meningitis and observe the factors which influenced prognosis. Methods: Forty-two patients with carcinomatous meningitis were involved in the retrospective analysis. All patients received whole brain radiotherapy. Among 9 patients with spine involved, 4 patients received whole spine radiation and 5 patients received focal spine radiation. The prognosis factors were analyzed with Cox regression analysis. Results: Clinical improvement was documented in 19 of 42 patients (45.2%). Thirty-five patients had a follow-up CT or MRI. A size reduction of lesions was seen in 14 patients (40%). The medium survival time was 3.7 months (ranging from 0.8 months to 32.4 months). Age (≤60), KPS(>60) and breast cancer were independent factors significantly associated with longer survival term in the univariate analysis. In a multivariate analysis, only KPS > 60 was confirmed as a positive prognostic factor. Conclusions: Radiotherapy is an effective way on carcinomatous meningitis. KPS is an independent prognosis factor. (authors)