Use of Ommaya Reservoirs to Deliver Pemetrexed in Leptomeningeal Metastasis from Non-small Cell Lung Cancer: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

Abstract

Leptomeningeal metastasis (LM) is one of the most severe complications of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), and its incidence is increasing gradually with the progress of targeted therapies. There are currently no standard guidelines for the therapy of LM. Intrathecal chemotherapy is the mainstay of treatment for NSCLC patients with LM, but the optimal drug, administration route and mode, and dosage remain unclear. We report a case of LM from NSCLC, who received the intrathecal chemotherapy with pemetrexed by Ommaya reservoir after prior targeted therapies. This local treatment improved the quality of life, and obtained the clearing of CSF cytology and stable lesions of LM without any notable side effects. After confirmation of LM, the patient has survived 17 months until now. Here we report the first case to demonstrate the potential effectiveness of intrathecal pemetrexed by Ommaya reservoir for the treatment of LM of NSCLC, summarize the safety and effectiveness of intrathecal chemotherapy in combination with related literatures, and provide a new strategy for local treatment of LM in clinical.

Keywords

• Lung neoplasms
• Leptomeningeal metastasis
• Ommaya reservoir
• Pemetrexed