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Rare disease
Case report
Palliative approach to leptomeningeal carcinomatosis in oesophagogastric junction cancer
  1. Renato Cunha1,
  2. João Godinho2,
  3. Mariana Inácio1 and
  4. Isabel Galriça Neto3
  1. 1 Medical Oncology Department, Hospital do Espirito Santo de Évora EPE, Évora, Portugal
  2. 2 Medical Oncology Department, Hospital Beatriz Ângelo, Loures, Portugal
  3. 3 Palliative Care Unit, Hospital da Luz Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
  1. Correspondence to Dr Renato Cunha; cunha_114{at}hotmail.com

Abstract

Leptomeningeal carcinomatosis (LC) is rare in solid tumours, particularly in gastrointestinal cancers. While other treatment strategies remain undefined, inclusion of palliative care is essential due to its very poor prognosis and variable manifestations. We report a case of oesophagogastric junction adenocarcinoma, previously submitted to surgery and chemotherapy, diagnosed with LC and followed in a palliative care unit. Treatment was comanaged with the oncology team and a palliative approach was decided. In this report, we review the literature and evaluate treatment options, with focus on the importance of palliative care and its potential benefits in patients diagnosed with this rare entity.

  • oncology
  • gastric cancer
  • palliative care
  • end of life decisions (palliative care)

https://doi.org/10.1136/bcr-2019-230114

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    Footnotes

    • Contributors RC was the main author of this article and responsible for the clinical case description and final draft. JG was responsible for the articles review and theoretical basis description. MI and IGN were responsible for the review of the case, each focusing in their speciality. The authors also provided clinical care to the patient during the described admissions.

    • Funding The authors have not declared a specific grant for this research from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors.

    • Competing interests None declared.

    • Patient consent for publication Not required.

    • Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.