Chemical meningitis: Unusual presentation of a cerebellar astrocytoma: Case report and review of the literature

Chemical meningitis resulting from the spillage of the contents of a cystic tumor rarely constitutes the sole manifestation of a cranial or spinal tumor. The case of a man who initially had signs and symptoms of meningitis that on computed tomographic scan was shown to be a space-occupying cerebellar lesion is reported. Thirty-five cases of cranial and spinal tumors in which the presenting symptom was chemical meningitis are also reviewed.