Primary spinal leptomeningeal astrocytoma

Summary This autopsy case report describes a clinically aggressive, histologically well-differentiated, diffuse, primary leptomeningeal astrocytoma. This rare tumour produced a meningitic clinical picture associated with hydrocephalus, focal spinal cord necrosis, and signs of spinal and cranial nerve root irritation. Despite the microscopic features, death occurred approximately 7 weeks after the first meningeal symptoms.This case was Diagnostic Case 15 of the 29th (1989) Annual Meeting of the Canadian Association of Neuropathologists