Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Cerebrospinal metastases in malignant childhood astrocytomas

  • Published:
Journal of Neuro-Oncology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Over a period of five years, antemortem diagnosis of leptomeningeal spread was made in six of thirteen children with high grade astrocytomas. These included four of seven children with hemispheral tumors and two of six children with malignant brainstem gliomas. Leptomeningeal spread was diagnosed by the clinical picture and CSF profile. Meningeal spread occurred an average of 5 months (range 0–16) after initial diagnosis of tumor was made. Several patients responded well to local radiation and/ or chemotherapy. Mean survival after evidence of meningeal spread was 7 months (range 2–16) with one patient still alive.

Meningeal spread of malignant childhood astrocytomas appears to be common and should be sought for in these patients as local radiation is beneficial. Serious consideration should be given to a controlled trial of prophylactic craniospinal radiation in thee tumors. The role of chemotherapy also requires further study.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Dohrmann GJ, Farwell JR, Flannery JT: Glioblastoma multiforme in children. J. Neurosurg 44:442–448, 1976.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Kernohan JW, Sayre GP: Tumors of nervous tissue. In: Atlas of Tumor Pathology, Section 10, Fascicles 35 and 37. Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, Washington, DC, 1952, pp 17–42.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Watson CW, Hajdu SI: Cytology of primary neoplasms of the central nervous system. Acta Cytologica 21:40–47, 1977.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Graham DI: Primary malignant tumors of the cerebral hemispheres of adults. In: Thomas DGT, Graham DI (eds) Brain Tumors. Scientific basis, clinical investigation and current therapy. Butterworths, London, 1980, p 280.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Cairns H, Russell DS: Intracranial and spinal metastases in gliomas of the brain. Brain 54:377–420, 1931.

    Google Scholar 

  6. Eade OF, Urich H: Metastasising gliomas in young subjects. J Path 103:245–256, 1971.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Erlich SS, Davis RL: Spinal subarachnoid metastasis from primary intracranial glioblastoma multiforme. Cancer 42:2854–2864,1978.

    Google Scholar 

  8. Yung WA, Horten BC, Shapiro WR: Meningeal gliomatosis: A review of 12 cases. Ann Neurol 8:605–608, 1980.

    Google Scholar 

  9. McLaughlin JE: Juvenile astrocytomas with subarachnoid spread. J Path 118:101–107, 1976.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Norbut AM, Mendelow H: Primary glioblastoma multiforme of the pineal region with leptomeningeal metastases: A case report. Cancer 47:592–596, 1981.

    Google Scholar 

  11. Littman P, Jarrett P, Bilaniuk LT, Rorke LB, Zimmerman RA, Bruce DA, Carabell Sc, Schut L: Pediatric brain stem gliomas. Cancer 45:2787–2792, 1980.

    Google Scholar 

  12. Mantravadi RVP, Phatak R, Bellur S, Liebner EJ, Haas R: Brain stem gliomas: an autopsy study of 25 cases. Cancer 49:1294–1296, 1982.

    Google Scholar 

  13. Packer RJ, Allen J, Nielsen S, Petito C, Deck M, Jereb B: Brain stem glioma: clinical manifestations of meningeal gliomatosis. Ann Neurol 14:177–182, 1983.

    Google Scholar 

  14. Bernat JL: Glioblastoma multiforme and the meningeal syndrome. Neurology (Minneap) 26:1071–1074, 1976.

    Google Scholar 

  15. Ascherl GF, Hilal SK, Brisman R: Computed tomography of disseminated meningeal and ependymal malignant neoplasms. Neurology (NY) 31:567–574, 1981.

    Google Scholar 

  16. Salcman M: Survival in glioblastoma: historical perspective. Neurosurgery 7: 435–439, 1980.

    Google Scholar 

  17. Bryan P: CSF seeding of intra-cranial tumors: A study of 96 cases. Clin Radiol 25: 355–360, 1974.

    Google Scholar 

  18. Salazar OM: Primary malignant cerebellar astrocytomas in children: a signal for postoperative craniospinal irradiation. In J Radiation Oncology Biol Phys 7:1661–1665, 1981.

    Google Scholar 

  19. Kopelson G, Linggood R: Infratentorial glioblastoma: the role of neuraxis irradiation. Int J Radiation Oncology Biol Phys 8:999–1003, 1982.

    Google Scholar 

  20. Kopelson G: Cerebellar glioblastoma. Cancer 50:308–311, 1982.

    Google Scholar 

  21. Glass JP, Melamed M, Chernik NL, Posner JB: Malignant cells in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF): The meaning of a positive CSF cytology. Neurology (Minneap) 29:584, 1979.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Author notes

  1. Raymond S Kandt

    Present address: Pediatric Neurology, University of Michigan Medical Center, 48109-0010, Ann Arbor, MI, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departments of Neurology, Pediatrics, Radiology, Oncology and Pathology, Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine, 600 North Wolfe Street, 21205, Baltimore, MD, USA

    Raymond S Kandt, Shlomo Shinnar, Bernard J D'Souza, Harvey S Singer, Moody D Wharam & Prabodh K Gupta

Authors
  1. Raymond S Kandt
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Shlomo Shinnar
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Bernard J D'Souza
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Harvey S Singer
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Moody D Wharam
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Prabodh K Gupta
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Kandt, R.S., Shinnar, S., D'Souza, B.J. et al. Cerebrospinal metastases in malignant childhood astrocytomas. J Neuro-Oncol 2, 123–128 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00177897

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00177897

Keywords

Search

Navigation