Spinal cord metastasis in a long‑term survivor of primary malignant glioblastoma: A case report

Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common type of primary malignant brain tumor. Extracranial metastasis (ECM) is rare and usually indicates poor prognosis. We report a case of a 31-year-old female with GBM who underwent gross total resection followed by standard chemoradiotherapy. For recurrence, she received tumor treating fields and bevacizumab. At 23 months post-surgery, she developed COVID-19 pneumonia treated with dexamethasone, followed by spinal symptoms. MRI revealed L1-L2 lesions, and pathology after lumbar surgery confirmed ECM. Despite further treatment, the patient died of respiratory failure at 28 months. The present case illustrates the aggressive nature of ECM in GBM and the limited efficacy of current therapies in metastatic settings. Surgical resection and chemoradiotherapy remain the mainstay, while emerging treatments may provide hope for recurrent cases. Supportive care plays a critical role in advanced disease stages.