Definition

Noun: * A medical condition characterized by inflammation of the leptomeninges, which are the two innermost layers of the meninges (the pia mater and the arachnoid mater) that surround the brain and spinal cord. This is a serious form of meningitis.

Usage

This is a highly specialized medical term used primarily in clinical, diagnostic, and academic contexts to specify the location of inflammation within the meninges.

Examples

• The cerebrospinal fluid analysis confirmed a diagnosis of leptomeningitis.
• Bacterial infections are a common cause of acute leptomeningitis.
• The MRI scan showed clear signs of leptomeningitis affecting the base of the brain.

Advanced Usage

• The term is often used to distinguish the condition from pachymeningitis, which is inflammation of the outermost meningeal layer, the dura mater.
• It can be modified by adjectives specifying the cause, such as , , or (when caused by cancer cells).

Variants and Related Words

• Meningitis (n.): A broader term for inflammation of the meninges, which may or may not specifically involve the leptomeninges. All leptomeningitis is meningitis, but not all meningitis is exclusively leptomeningitis.
• Leptomeningeal (adj.): Pertaining to the leptomeninges. (e.g., on a scan).
• Arachnoiditis (n.): Inflammation specifically of the arachnoid mater, one of the two leptomeningeal layers.

Synonyms

• Meningitis (in its common clinical usage, though this is a broader term)

Notes on Meaning

This word has a single, precise medical meaning. It does not have everyday, idiomatic, or phrasal verb uses.

Noun

1. inflammation of the leptomeninges