Thalamic glioblastoma with cerebrospinal fluid dissemination in the peritoneal cavity.

Glioblastoma multiforme is one of the commonest primary malignant tumours of the brain with rare incidence of extracranial metastases. Systemic dissemination via the CSF or CSF diversionary shunt procedures is also rare. The reported 9-year-old child was a case of thalamic glioblastoma with hydrocephalus who underwent biventriculoperitoneal shunting before tumour decompression and radiotherapy. The child developed incapacitating ascites 8 months following surgical decompression and 9 months after the shunt diversion which was found to be caused by CSF dissemination of the glioblastoma via the ventriculoperitoneal shunt. The child ultimately succumbed to his disease. Copyright 2000 S. Karger AG, Basel