Intramedullary spinal cord glioma with intracranial seeding

Two cases of intracranial dissemination of primary intramedullary spinal cord gliomas are reported, with a review of the literature. One patient had a post mortem confirmation and in the second, cerebral CT scan and CSF examination demonstrated the occurrence of intracranial dissemination. CSF protein was elevated on both patients and malignant cells were found late in only the one patient. Both patients had raised intracranial pressure. The mechanisms of dissemination and of raised intracranial pressure are discussed. Such dissemination may be more common than previously realised.