Deafness and blindness: A rare presentation of meningeal carcinomatosis

Abstract

A 60-year-old woman presented with progressive loss of vision and deafness with recurrent simple partial seizures. This patient was treated for carcinoma breast 13 years before this presentation. Magnetic resonance imaging brain and magnetic resonance angiography was normal. Cerebrospinal fluid analysis was inconclusive. Meningeal biopsy revealed metastatic deposits and malignant cells were positive for estrogen, progesterone, and HER2nu receptor. This case has some unique features in the form of involvement of optic and vestibulocochlear nerves together, primary site of malignancy was hidden, and diagnosis was made with meningeal biopsy.

Keywords

• Blindness
• breast carcinoma
• cranial nerve palsies
• deafness
• meningeal carcinomatosis