title: Leptomeningeal metastases of an astrocytoma of the conus medullaris: a case report.
abstract: We describe a case of spinal leptomeningeal metastases of an astrocytoma of the conus medullaris that presented with quadriplegia. The patient was a 50-year-old woman with a previously treated astrocytoma of the conus medullaris and a spinal cord metastasis at the Th2-L level. Four years after the initial treatment, the patient developed weakness of the upper extremities with a decreased muscular tonus. Magnetic resonance imaging of the cervical spine showed an intradural extramedullary metastatic tumor deposit at the C3-C6 level. Spinal leptomeningeal metastases need to be suspected in patients with a history of intramedullary astrocytoma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Split University Hospital, Split, Croatia. marina.titlic@gmail.com
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Titlic
authors.forename: Ante
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tonkic
authors.forename: Ivana
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Jukic
authors.forename: Ante
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Buca
authors.forename: Ante
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Punda
mesh_terms: D001254:Astrocytoma / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008577:Meningeal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009123:Muscle Hypotonia / Q000209:etiology; D011782:Quadriplegia / Q000209:etiology; D013120:Spinal Cord Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*