Venous Sinus Stenting for Transverse Sinus Stenosis Associated with Leptomeningeal Carcinomatosis in a Patient with Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor-Mutated Lung Cancer: A Case Report

Bachground

Venous sinus stenting has been accepted as the established treatment for idiopathic intracranial hypertension [1,2]. Characteristic symptoms of intracranial hypertension are intractable headaches, papilledema, and visual symptoms. The incidence of idiopathic intracranial hypertension is reported to be roughly 1–2 per million population. However, use of venous sinus stenting for cerebral sinus stenosis associated with LC has not been well-studied because of the extreme rarity and dismal prognosis of LC [3,4]. The reported median survival of patients with LC in historical data was only 1–3 months. Here, we report a case of venous sinus stenting for transverse sinus stenosis associated with LC in a patient with lung cancer who presented with severe headache and visual symptoms. His symptoms were remarkably relieved after stenting and he survived for 8 months after the diagnosis of LC.

Case Report

Institutional Review Board approval was obtained for this case report. A 57-year-old man who had received chemotherapy using cisplatin and vinorelbine for lung adenocarcinoma in the previous year presented with severe headache and vomiting. He subsequently became almost blind bilaterally 3 months after onset.

Head CT revealed no significant findings including hydrocephalus, but head MRV showed occlusion of the left transverse sinus (Figure 1). Gd-enhanced MRI showed no abnormal enhancement. Hematological, coagulation, biochemical, and serological findings were normal. Lumbar puncture intracranial pressure was higher than 40 cmH2O. Cerebrospinal fluid cell count, protein, and glucose were 28 cells/μL, 36.1 mg/dL, and 42 mg/dL, respectively. LC was highly suspected by positive cerebrospinal fluid tumor cytology. Medication was not effective in treating the headache, but it was relieved by repeated lumbar punctures. Thus, intracranial hypertension due to left transverse sinus occlusion associated with LC was diagnosed, and we prescribed 250 mg of acetazolamide/day to relieve it. However, he suddenly lost consciousness when the diagnostic catheter angiography was planned. His consciousness was returned to normal by lumbar puncture, and a ventriculo-peritoneal shunt using a programmable valve system of CERTAS® (Codman, Raynham, MA) was performed urgently on the next day. Cerebral angiography showed severe stenosis of the left transverse sinus and delay of cerebral circulation (Figure 2A), as well as significant delay of cerebral circulation. The transverse sinus stenosis was judged to be contributing to raised intracranial pressure, and he underwent left transverse sinus stent placement using Palmaz® Genesis (Cordis, Miami, FL) 1 week after the shunt was placed (Figure 2B). Dual antiplatelet drugs using acetylsalicylic acid 100 mg and clopidogrel 75 mg were administered for 4 days prior to the procedure, as described in the literature [1]. After the procedure, a flicker test showed that his visual acuity had improved, Goldmann perimeter testing showed that the visual field was enlarged (Figure 3), and his headache was controlled by medication. However, a follow-up Gd-enhanced MRI showed dural enhancement and spinal dissemination (Figure 4). Because molecular biology of the surgical specimen obtained from lung cancer the year before showed epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-activating mutations [5], he was treated with osimertinib for 2 months until best supportive care was chosen after progression of disease. The patient survived for 8 months following the diagnosis of LC and left transverse sinus stenosis.

Discussion

LC is caused by the spread of cancer cells to the leptomeninges and by their dissemination within the cerebrospinal fluid [4]; most arises from lung, breast cancer, and melanoma [6]. LC occurs in 3–5% of patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer [4]. Reported analysis of LC outcomes in non-small-cell lung cancer indicated a poor median survival of only 3 months and no difference in survival in patients who received whole-brain radiotherapy [7]. The most frequent symptom at onset is intracranial hypertension, and high lumbar puncture intracranial pressure was reported to occur in 57% of cases [3,8]. Because the sensitivity of non-contrast MRI scan is not high, cerebrospinal fluid cytological examination still remains the criterion standard for diagnosis of LC [4].

A retrospective study showed a higher incidence of LC in patients with EGFR mutations than in those with wild-type EGFR [9]. However, after substantial efforts in the characterization of genetic profiles and the development of novel agents with greater central nervous system permeability, promising advances have been made in the management of LC from NSCLC, especially in this subtype [4,10]. The prognosis of patients with LC has dramatically improved from a historical median survival of 1–3 months to 3–11 months [11–14]. Osimertinib is a third-generation EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor with impressive efficacy in controlling both systemic and central nervous system disease. Because it has a higher CNS/blood penetration ratio, it is being investigated as a therapy for LC [4,9].

Cerebral venous sinus obstruction is a very rare complication of LC. Direct pressure on the sinus venosus by the tumor (dural/cranial metastasis) and direct tumor extension into the sinus venosus were suggested to be the underlying mechanisms [15]. Few case reports have been published [15–18]. The reported incidence of venous sinus obstruction associated with LC in cancer patients who underwent neurological consultation was 0.02% [19]. However, it may be overlooked because of its non-specific clinical symptoms for LC patients, extremely poor prognosis of LC, and prior requirement for angiographic diagnosis. Thus, data on the efficacy of venous sinus stenting for cerebral venous sinus stenting are quite scarce.

Based on a review of the literature, this appears to be the first case report of venous sinus stenting for venous sinus stenosis associated with LC in the era of molecular targeted therapy [14]. Severe headache and visual symptoms associated with cerebral venous sinus stenosis caused reduced quality of life in our patient. His symptoms were remarkably relieved after venous sinus stenting, and he was discharged home. He died 8 months after diagnosis of LC, and venous sinus stenting offered an effective palliative interventional option for symptom relief of severe headache and visual symptoms, even in the end stage of malignancy.

Conclusions

Venous sinus stenting can offer an effective palliative interventional option for symptom relief of severe headache and visual symptoms, even in the end stage of malignancy with leptomeningeal carcinomatosis in the era of molecular targeted therapy.