title: Osteoblastic metastases from astrocytomas: a report of two cases.
abstract: The spread of primary central nervous system (CNS) neoplasms beyond the confines of the neuraxis is a relatively uncommon observation. Extraneural metastases involving bone are quite rare, and have been observed almost exclusively in cases of medulloblastoma, high-grade (III-IV) astrocytoma, and glioblastoma multiforme. To date there has been only one case reported of bone metastasis from a "well-differentiated" astrocytoma. We now report two cases of astrocytoma in children with diffuse osteoblastic metastases and a fulminant clinical course. These cases demonstrate that due to the potential morphologic heterogeneity of these neoplasms, an initial biopsy diagnosis of low-grade astrocytoma does not always imply a benign clinical course.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina.
authors.forename: D C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Longee
authors.forename: H S
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Friedman
authors.forename: P C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Phillips
authors.forename: P C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Burger
authors.forename: W J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Oakes
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Heffez
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wharam
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Strauss
authors.forename: G N
authors.initials: GN
authors.lastname: Fuller
authors.forename: S C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Schold
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001254:Astrocytoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary*; D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000556:secondary*; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013120:Spinal Cord Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary