Metastatic oligodendrogliomas: a review of the literature and case report

Acta Neurochir (Wien). 2008 Jul;150(7):699-702; discussion 702-3. doi: 10.1007/s00701-008-1507-z. Epub 2008 Jun 12.

Abstract

Oligodendroglioma cells are detectable in the cerebro-spinal fluid in up to 14% of patients [10] and cerebellar and/or spinal cord involvement is a well known phenomenon [3]. Distant spread of oligodendroglioma is exceptional, probably due to the presence of the blood-brain barrier, the absence of lymphatic vessels and the short survival of patients. A review of the worldwide literature yielded 32 previously reported examples since 1951 to the present (Tab1e 1). This review was performed using NCBI-PubMed and "oligodendroglioma, oligodendrogliomas, metastatic, metastasis, metastases, extraneural", in different combinations, as key words and reviewing the bibliography of the consequent selected articles. New therapeutic approaches are prolonging the overall survival of patients with primitive brain tumours and in particular of those with high grade oligodendroglioma which is a chemo-sensitive disease. A longer overall survival could increase the risk of extracranial dissemination of gliomas that in the future might become a less rare clinical complication.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Brain Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Fatal Outcome
  • Humans
  • Liver Neoplasms / diagnosis
  • Liver Neoplasms / secondary*
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Male
  • Occipital Lobe*
  • Oligodendroglioma / diagnosis
  • Oligodendroglioma / pathology
  • Oligodendroglioma / secondary*
  • Parietal Lobe*