Primary Spinal Glioblastoma Multiforme: A Case Report and Review of The Literature

Introduction: Primary spinal glioblastoma multiforme is a very rare disease with high morbidity and mortality rates. No definite treatment algorhythm can be constituted, but multimodal treatment regimens have been administered. Aim of the treatment is to excise the mass nearly completely, and then application of radiotherapy and chemotherapy in a short period. Methods: Publications were identified by browsing search engines such as PubMed and MEDLINE for English-language articles since 1989 using a list of keywords; as well as identifying references from review articles. The following keywords were used for searching databases: primary, spinal, glioblastoma multiforme. Results: Intramedullary mass was detected at the levels of C2-T8 in the spinal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examination performed in our 4-year old male patient, who applied to us with complaints of weakness in lower extremities and gaita-urine incontinence. Sepsis was developed in postoperative period of the patient, whose mass was gross-totally resected by using microsurgery method. After the patient was started to have radiotherapy, he was extubated with improvements in the clinical state and neurological picture. He has been followed up at the hospital in the three-month monitorization after the treatment. Literature data suggested that all three therapy modalities can be used for sGBM, sequentially or concurrently, it has a poor survival, most of the patients die due to disease and the duration of symptoms are very short. Conclusion: Because the disease is very rare, prospective studies cannot be performed in this patient population.