Primary glioblastoma multiforme of the medulla spinalis: a report of three cases and review of the literature

Abstract

Primary spinal glioblastoma multiforme (spinal GBM) is not a very common entity. This paper presents an outline of this rare neoplasm, its clinical presentation, course, management and outcome and reports a 3-case series of spinal GBM. In this 3-case series with spinal GBM, one of the patients was operated for hydrocephalous 10 months later following the tumor surgery and another patient had cerebral metastasis after the surgery. In the postoperative period, two of the cases received radiotherapy and one received combined radiotherapy and chemotherapy with steroid therapy together following the tumor surgery. The review of the pertinent literature has revealed that due to the scarcity of the reported cases of primary spinal GBMs, this issue requires a closer look. GBM behaves more aggressive in medulla spinalis than it behaves when it originates from cerebrum. It may disseminate to the cerebrum during its course and it may cause hydrocephalus due to this dissemination (metastasis).