Spinal metastases of a high grade astrocytoma visualized with FDG-PET
Woesler, B.; Kuwert, T.; Probst-Cousin, S.; Schäfers, M.; Wassmann, H.; Gullotta, F.; Schober, O.
Clinical Nuclear Medicine 22(12): 863-864
1997
ISSN/ISBN: 0363-9762 PMID: 9408658 Document Number: 483755
A 42-year-old woman had experienced headaches, back pain, and progressive paraplegia 11 months after surgery and radiotherapy for an astrocytoma III-IV (World Health Organization) of the right frontal lobe. PET imaging with F-18-fluorodeoxyglucose showed multiple hypermetabolic lesions along the neuroaxis corresponding to contrast-enhancing tumors on spinal MRI, in particular at the level of the first and seventh cervical vertebra. Histopathologic examination of cerebrospinal fluid revealed atypical cells compatible with neoplasm. This combination of clinical, radiological, and histopathologic findings was interpreted as indicative of metastatic glioma along the spinal cord.