A case of spinal intramedullary malignant astrocytoma with intracranial seeding

J Korean Neurol Assoc > Volume 15(6); 1997 > Article

Journal of the Korean Neurological Association 1997;15(6): 1306-1310.

대뇌내 전이를 보인 척수내 악성성상세포종 1예

김상우, 정재익, 차재관, 김상호, 김재우, 김기욱, 최순섭, 나서희

동아대학교 의대 신경과. 신경외과. 방사선과. 병리학교실

A case of spinal intramedullary malignant astrocytoma with intracranial seeding

Sang Woo Kim. M.D. , Jae Ik Chung, M.D. , Jae Kwan Cha M.D. , Sang Ho Kim, M.D. , Jea Woo Kim M.D. , Ki Uk Kim, M.D. * Sun Sep Choi, M.D.,**, Seo Hee Rha, M.D***

Dept of Neurology, Internal Medicine*, Dong -A University College of Medicine

Abstract

Background ; Astrocytoma in spinal cord is rare, comprising only 1% of all primary central nervous system tumors. Malignant astrocytomas( grades III and IV) account for only 7.5% of intramedullary glioma occuring in all age. Dissemination from malignant astrocytoma in spinal cord to the cerebral subarachnoid space has been rarely reported. Case description : A 22-year- old male was brought for evaluation of a back pain and progressive left leg weakness over 40 days. MRI of the thoracolumbar spine showed intramedullary mass lesion(T11-L1). Concurrent cranial CT and CSF cytology showed no abnormal findings. The tumor was removed partially. At that time, pathologic diagnosis was low grade astrocytoma. He was given regional irradiation. Six months after surgery the patient was reevaluated because of seizure. CSF cytology revealed malignant cells. Brain MRI showed leptomeningeal carcinomatosis with hydrocephalus. A second pathology of the tumor revealed malignant astrocytoma. Conclusion : We report a arae case of spinal intramedullary malignant astrocytoma with intracranial seeding.