Peritoneal metastasis of intracranial glioblastoma via a ventriculoperitoneal shunt preventing organ retrieval: case report and review of the literature

Abstract

The case of patient with glioblastoma metastatic to the peritoneal cavity 9 months after ventriculoperitoneal shunt surgery precluding cadaver organ procurement is presented. Even though central nervous tumors rarely metastasize spontaneously, the literature indicates that systemic metastases are related to previous surgical procedures and especially shunt surgery. Central nervous tumors have been known to metastasize to lungs, liver, and kidneys and could be transmitted through transplanted organs as shown in the Cincinnati tumor registry. The transplant surgeon should be alerted to this possibility and thorough search for metastases should be undertaken before considering primary brain tumor patients as donors.