Intracranial dissemination of primary spinal cord anaplastic oligodendroglioma

We report the first case of a 22-year-old man, with a previously neurosurgically treated intramedullary anaplastic oligodendroglioma (World Health Organization grade III), who developed 19 months later two histologically proven intracranial metastases. We support a hypothesis whereby the anaplastic parts of tumors have spread along the spinal cord and brainstem via the cerebrospinal fluid pathways, a process that could be promoted by surgical manipulation, although the relative contribution of the two factors remains speculative.