Malignant astrocytoma with extracranial metastases: a case report

A 41-year-old man was referred to this hospital after being diagnosed as suffering from malignant astrocytoma. In spite of two operations and subsequent chemoradiation therapy, the patient died 20 months after the onset of disease. At autopsy, the authors found skin invasion of tumor at left temporal region, softening of the brain and subarachnoid hemorrhage at the base of the brain. Yellowish-white bulging lesions were found at the bottom of left lung, diaphragm and parietal pleura. Histologically, primary lesion showed features of anaplastic malignant astrocytoma. Subarachnoid dissemination was noted at the base of the brain and in the spinal canal. Invasion into the vessels were observed both at the primary site and at the base of the brain. Glial fibrillary acidic protein positive spindle-shaped tumor cells proliferation was seen in the metastatic lesions. This case was diagnosed as malignant astrocytoma with remote extracranial metastases.