Intracranial Metastases of Cervical Intramedullary Low-Grade Astrocytoma without Malignant Transformation in Adult.
10.3340/jkns.2009.45.6.381
- Author:
Se Youn JANG
1
;
Min Ho KONG
;
Kwan Young SONG
;
John G FRAZEE
Author Information
1. Department of Neurosurgery, Seoul Medical Center, Seoul, Korea. davidmhkong@gmail.com
- Publication Type:Case Report
- Keywords:
Astrocytoma;
Intramedullary;
Spinal cord tumor;
Cranial metastases
- MeSH:
Adult;
Astrocytoma;
Ataxia;
Biopsy;
Brain;
Gait;
Humans;
Kyphosis;
Magnetic Resonance Imaging;
Male;
Neoplasm Metastasis;
Spinal Cord;
Spinal Cord Neoplasms;
Spine
- From:Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
2009;45(6):381-385
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
The first case of intracranial metastases of a cervical intramedullary low-grade astrocytoma without malignant transformation in adult is presented in this report. Seven years ago, a 45 year-old male patient underwent biopsy to confirm pathologic characteristics and received craniocervical radiation and chemotherapy for a grade II astrocytoma in the cervical spinal cord. Two years later, posterior fusion was necessary for progressive kyphosis in the cervical spine. He was well for approximately 7 years after the primary surgery. Two months ago, he presented with partial weakness and incoordination with gait difficulty. MRI Scan demonstrated multiple small lesions in the cerebellar vermis and left hemisphere. After suboccipital craniectomy and posterior cervical exposure, the small masses in the cerebellar vermis and hemispheres were excised to a large extent by guidance of an intraoperative navigation system. The tumor at the cervical and brain lesions was classified as an astrocytoma (WHO grade II). When a patient with low-grade astrocytoma in the spinal cord has new cranial symptoms after surgery, radiaton, and chemotherapy, the possibility of its metastasis should be suspected because it can spread to the intracranial cavity even without malignant transformation as shown in this case.
