adult spinal cord glioblastoma
A rare spinal tumor which is highly malignant and tends to be locally invasive of surrounding neural tissue. The tumor also tends to spread throughout the neuroaxis and is often rapidly progressive. Histologically the tumors are highly cellular with nuclear and cellular pleomorphism, endothelial proliferation, mitotic figures, and, often, necrosis. This tumor has a relatively poor prognosis. Clinical features may include pain followed by rapidly progressive neurologic deficits such as extremity weakness, sensory changes, spasticity, and incontinence. (From Innocenzi et al., Clin Neurol Neurosurg 1997 Feb;99(1):1-5)