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Review
. 2016 May:89:578-582.e3.
doi: 10.1016/j.wneu.2015.11.061. Epub 2015 Dec 15.

Extraneural Glioblastoma Multiforme Vertebral Metastasis

C Rory Goodwin  1 , Lydia Liang  2 , Nancy Abu-Bonsrah  2 , Alia Hdeib  2 , Benjamin D Elder  2 , Thomas Kosztowski  2 , Chetan Bettegowda  2 , John Laterra  3 , Peter Burger  4 , Daniel M Sciubba  2
Affiliations
Review

Extraneural Glioblastoma Multiforme Vertebral Metastasis

C Rory Goodwin et al. World Neurosurg. 2016 May.

Abstract

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most common malignant central nervous system tumor; however, extraneural metastasis is uncommon. Of those that metastasize extraneurally, metastases to the vertebral bodies represent a significant proportion. We present a review of 28 cases from the published literature of GBM metastasis to the vertebra. The mean age at presentation was 38.4 years with an average overall survival of 26 months. Patients were either asymptomatic with metastasis discovered at autopsy or presented with varying degrees of pain, weakness of the extremities, or other neurologic deficits. Of the cases that included the time to spinal metastasis, the average time was 26.4 months with a reported survival of 10 months after diagnosis of vertebral metastasis. A significant number of patients had no treatments for their spinal metastasis, although the intracranial lesions were treated extensively with surgery and/or adjuvant therapy. With increasing incremental gains in the survival of patients with GBM, clinicians will encounter patients with extracranial metastasis. As such, this review presents timely information concerning the presentation and outcomes of patients with vertebral metastasis.

Keywords: Extracranial; Extraneural; Glioblastoma; Glioma; Metastasis; Spinal; Vertebral.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of interest statement: C. Rory Goodwin, M.D., Ph.D., is a UNCF Merck Postdoctoral Fellow and has received an award from the Burroughs Wellcome Fund. Daniel M. Sciubba, M.D., is a consultant for Medtronic. This article reflects the views of the authors and should not be construed to represent the FDA’s views or policies.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Graph depicting frequency of bone metastasis from glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) based on Pasquier et al.’s series of extracranial metastasis of GBM.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Survival of patients diagnosed with a glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) spinal metastasis from (A) primary GBM diagnosis and (B) diagnosis of GBM spinal metastasis.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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