Spinal leptomeningeal metastases of giant cell glioblastoma associated with subarachnoid haemorrhage: case report

Abstract

A case of subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH) due to spinal leptomeningeal metastases of a giant cell glioblastoma is described. A 51 year old male presented with a four week history of headache. Neurological examination was normal except for a slight left h emiparesis. Computed tomography (CT) revealed a large cyst with a mural nodule in the right temporal lobe. The tumour was removed followed by 60Gy of radiation therapy. Thirty-two months later he developed headache and shoulder pain with symptoms of normal pressure hydrocephalus. Head CT showed ventriculomegaly and SAH. Magnetic resonance imaging showed spinal leptomeningeal metastases at the C4–5, T12, and L2 levels, but no local recurrence or tumour dissemination in the brain. He died 34 months after surgery. Autopsy revealed diffuse SAH over the whole brain and spinal cord, a ssociated with spinal leptomeningeal metastases, but no cerebral aneurysms. Spinal radiotherapy and ventriculoperitoneal shunting could possibly have extended survival in this patient.