title: Solitary, primary malignant astrocytoma of the spinal leptomeninges.
abstract: Malignant astrocytoma of leptomeningeal origin is a rare central nervous system neoplasm. A study of surgical and autopsy material from a primary leptomeningeal malignant astrocytoma of the spinal cord is presented. The initial presentation was focal; an extramedullary, intradural mass caused thoracic cord compression, although at autopsy the neoplasm involved the entire leptomeninges. The histological, ultrastructural and immunocytochemical findings of a tumor in this location and its histogenesis are discussed.
mesh_terms: D001254:Astrocytoma / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008577:Meningeal Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D013117:Spinal Cord Compression / Q000209:etiology; D013120:Spinal Cord Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology*