Gliomas (astrocytomas) of the brain-stem with spinal intra- and extradural metastases: report of three cases.
Astrocytomas of the pons and medulla oblongata ('brain-stem gliomas') while often invasive locally, do not as a rule seed and metastasize along the spinal meninges. Three cases are here reported (two adults, one child) in whom astrocytoma of the brain-stem metastasized along the spinal cord. The dura mater itself and the spinal epidural space were invaded in two cases. The child and one adult had a pontine astrocytoma, the other adult's tumour originated in the medulla oblongata. In the two cases that came to necropsy the tumour of the brain-stem was much better differentiated than the meningeal deposits. These three cases suggest that the possibility of spinal spread of brain-stem gliomas should be considered when dealing with diagnostic and therapeutic problems of such patients.
D000328:Adult; D001254:Astrocytoma / Q000473:pathology*; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D001933:Brain Stem / Q000473:pathology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008526:Medulla Oblongata / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D011149:Pons / Q000473:pathology; D013120:Spinal Cord Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*