This type of meningitis is quite rare and affects less than 5% of cancer patients with a solid tumour, such as breast cancer, lung cancer or melanoma.
The facts
- Malignant meningitis may develop when the cancer spreads to the central nervous system
- Fat droplets leaking into the space between the skull and brain due to rupture of benign tumours can also cause meningitis
- Malignant meningitis may resolve with successful treatment of the cancer through chemotherapy