Primary Spinal Cord Glioblastoma.

Area of Science:

• Neuro-oncology
• Spinal Cord Pathology
• Neurosurgery

Background:

• Glioblastoma (GBM) is a primary malignant brain tumor, rarely occurring in the spinal cord.
• Spinal glioblastomas are aggressive and have a poor prognosis, often presenting with rapidly progressing neurological symptoms.

Observation:

• A 29-year-old patient presented with interscapular pain, paresthesia, and lower extremity muscle weakness.
• Spinal MRI revealed a T2-T6 lesion, initially suspected as ependymoma.
• Histopathology and immunohistochemistry confirmed glioblastoma, not otherwise specified (NOS).

Findings:

• The patient underwent subtotal resection with laminectomy.
• Adjuvant radiotherapy and concomitant chemotherapy were administered.
• Disease progression occurred in the cervical and lumbar spine, leading to death 16 months after diagnosis.

Implications:

• This case underscores the rarity and aggressive nature of spinal glioblastoma.
• Early diagnosis and multimodal treatment strategies are crucial.
• Further research into effective treatment protocols for spinal glioblastomas is warranted.