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Metastases to the spinal cord from glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) are uncommon, but important to have in mind when patients with a history of GBM present with symptoms that do not correlate with the primary disease pattern. We report a rare case, where a male with GBM, six months after tumour excision followed by concomitant radio- and chemotherapy, presented with gait disturbance and unspecific neurological symptoms of the lower right limb. Magnetic resonance imaging of columna totalis revealed both intra- and extramedullary metastases in the spinal cord. The patient died one month later.

900 to 1000 new cases of primary brain tumour occur each year in Denmark, and half of them are gliomas. The treatment is cytoreductive surgery, followed by radiation therapy and chemotherapy. Radiation therapy has a definite place in the treatment of low-grade gliomas, but the timing is a matter of dispute. Patients with Glioblastoma Multiform should be treated with concomitant radiation therapy and temozolamide, followed by adjuvant temozolamide. Anaplastic astrocytomas should be treated with postoperative radiation therapy with or without adjuvant chemotherapy. Anaplastic oligodendroglioma should be treated with radiation therapy only.