Spinal metastases of cerebral glioblastoma: the value of computed tomographic metrizamide myelography in the diagnosis

Abstract

Spinal metastases from cerebral glioblastoma via the cerebrospinal pathway are rarely detected when the primary tumors are under apparent control. The authors report two adult patients with cerebral glioblastoma who developed spinal symptoms referable to spinal seeding without neurological and computed tomographic findings of the recurrence of the primary tumors. Computed tomographic metrizamide myelography clearly revealed minute deposits of perispinal metastatic tumors that could not be detected by conventional myelography. Even perispinal mass lesions so minute that they are revealed only by computed tomographic metrizamide myelography can invade the spinal cord and cause clinical symptoms.