SPINAL METASTASIS OF GLIOBLASTOMAS - A CA SE-REPORT

Metastasis of intracranial glioblastomas have been described for the f irst time more than fifty years ago. They are exceptional and seem to develop clinicaly in less than 2% of cases. In fact, microscopic metas tasis (necropsic series) of such glioblastomas are much more frequent: from 6% for supratentorial glioblastomas to 60% in infratentorial one s; but patients usually die before clinical symptoms appear. The autho rs report on an intraspinal metastasis which appeared clinicaly four y ears after the removal of a frontal glioblastoma. The metastasis was s ubdural, T3. Preoperative radiological data (CT-scan, MRI) evoked a me ningioma, while surgical findings favoured the diagnosis of neurinoma. The diagnosis of glioblastoma metastasis was suggested by intra-opera tive pathological findings, and confirmed a few days later on smears a nd stains studies.