Primary spinal glioblastoma multiforme: A case report and review of the literature

• Published in: Medicine (Baltimore) 2017-04, Vol.96 (16), p.e6634-e6634
• Main Authors: Shen, Chao-Xiong, Wu, Jian-Feng, Zhao, Wei, Cai, Zhao-Wen, Cai, Ran-Ze, Chen, Chun-Mei
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Cervical Vertebrae - pathology; Clinical Case Report; Combined Modality Therapy; Female; Glioblastoma - pathology; Glioblastoma - therapy; Humans; Spinal Cord Neoplasms - pathology; Spinal Cord Neoplasms - therapy
• ISSN: 0025-7974; 1536-5964
• DOI: 10.1097/MD.0000000000006634

Primary spinal glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is a rare clinical entity with an aggressive course and an invariably dismal prognosis. Its clinical characteristics, radiologic and pathologic findings, and treatment protocols have been discussed in a few cases. A 15-year-old female was admitted to the neurology department with a chief complaint of progressive numbness and weakness in her left upper extremity for 3 months and neck pain for 1 month. Spinal magnetic resonance imaging showed an intramedullary expansile mass localized between C4 and C7. The diagnosis of GBM was determined on the basis of the histopathological findings after operation. Laminotomy and laminoplasty between C4 and C7 were performed, and the tumor was partially resected. The patient was administered focal adjuvant radiotherapy concomitantly with oral chemotherapy following the surgery. With severe neurologic deficits at 13 months after the diagnosis, the patient expired. Although therapeutic options have been improving, the prognosis of the primary spinal GBM remains poor. The treatment of primary spinal GBM entered into a central registry and multiple-center cooperation is important in establishing future therapeutic strategies.