DIFFUSE BONE MARROW METASTASIS IN CEREBELLAR HIGH-GRADE ASTROCYTOMA. A CASE REPORT

Introduction. Cerebellar high-grade astrocytoma is uncommon. Although more prone to present cerebrospinal fluid dissemination, the cerebellar location is not particularly related to the occurrence of extra-cranial metastases, which are also unusual in supratentorial malignant gliomas. Case report. A 46 year-old man with cerebellar anaplastic astrocytoma who developed pancytopenia due to extensive bone marrow metastases. Conclusion. Extraneural metastases of brain gliomas are rare and the spread to the bone marrow confers an extremely poor prognosis for these patients. The expected improvement in glioma patients' survival due to the combination of more efficient therapies may lead to an increased incidence of this uncommon presentation, justifying a more rigorous follow-up of systemic manifestations. [REV NEUROL 2009; 48: 242-4]