Background Meningioma accounts for more than 35% of all diagnosed brain tumors of the central nervous system and, moreover, it is the most common benign recipient of tumor-to-tumor metastasis. Several cases with tumor-to-meningioma metastasis by breast, lung, and intestinal cancer have been described before. Case description The case of a patient with a longstanding history of multiple meningiomas ( n = 4) that suddenly became symptomatic and progressive in size is presented. Following extirpation of the two largest meningiomas, a histological examination revealed two separate tumor-to-meningioma metastases of clear cell renal cell carcinoma that was undiagnosed before. Post-surgical computed tomography scan then confirmed tumor-suspect lesions in both kidneys. After recovery and rehabilitation, adjuvant radio-chemo-therapy was applied according to protocols for kidney cancer. No other tumor-to-tumor-suspect event occurred since then for the remaining two meningiomas. Conclusion Review of literature and our case strengthens the idea of meningioma as a favorable premetastatic niche. Considering that the patient lived with a stable disease for many years, a sudden progress of tumor size in association with neurological deterioration was highly suspected for malign involvement, including the possibility of tumor-to-tumor metastasis. Physicians should be aware about this phenomenon and treat patients accordingly to the underlying disease.
Journal of neurological surgery reports. 2020 Mar 31 [Epub]
Johannes Dietterle, Clara Frydrychowicz, Wolf Müller, Karl-Titus Hoffmann, Katja Jähne, Jürgen Meixensberger
Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospital Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany., Section of Neuropathology, Department of Diagnostic Medicine, University Hospital Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany., Section of Neuroradiology, Department of Diagnostic Medicine, University Hospital Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.