SUBARACHNOID AND VENTRICULAR IMPLANTS IN EPENDYMAL AND OTHER GLIOMAS

Abstract

In 8 patients in whom tumors of ependymal origin occurred, subarachnoid spinal implants were encountered in 3 cases. In 2 of these patients, symptoms referable to the implant appeared and temporary clinical improvement followed its removal in one case. Ventricular or subarachnoid implants may occur in practically all types of gliomas, benign as well as malignant, although much more commonly in the latter. Distant cerebral or spinal symptoms or signs which occur in association with gliomas of ependymal or other origin should suggest subarachnoid implants. Discrete subcutaneous nodules of glioma tissue were encountered at necropsy in the scalp flap of a patient from whom a glioblastoma multiforme was removed 8 mos. before death.