Dissemination of malignant gliomas beyond the central nervous system

SummaryBackgroundGliomas are the most frequently diagnosed primary intracranial tumours in adults. This group incorporates astrocytomas, oligodendrogliomas and ependymomas. Glioma treatment in adults usually means surgery and radiotherapy, and in the case of poorly differentiated tumours, chemotherapy may also be applied. Failures in the treatment of malignant gliomas are mostly local recurrences, intracranial dissemination and, very seldom, metastases beyond the central nervous system.AimThe aim of this paper was to present two instances of extraneural dissemination in cases of malignant glioma of the brain.Materials/MethodsTwo patients with dissemination of malignant glioma were diagnosed and treated in our department during the last 20 years.ResultsTreatment effects were poor.ConclusionsExtraneural brain tumour dissemination is infrequent and their treatment remains an unsolved problem. Treatment is similar to that of primary glioma, especially in cases with high dynamics.Neither chemotherapy nor radiotherapy are able to produce even a short term palliative effect.