Clinical Characteristics and Prognostic Outcomes of Spinal Cord Gliomas with Intracranial Metastasis: An Integrated Analysis Based on Individual Cases.

Abstract

To characterize the clinicopathological features and identify survival predictors in rare spinal cord gliomas (SCGs) with intracranial metastasis (IM), with the goal of guiding clinical decision-making and optimizing management strategies. A retrospective analysis was conducted on 62 histopathologically verified SCGs (12 low-grade and 50 high-grade) with IM based on published cases and case series. Survival outcomes were analyzed using Kaplan-Meier methods with time-dependent variables. Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to evaluate survival patterns, and Cox proportional hazards regression was applied to identify prognostic factors associated with survival outcomes. Univariate analysis showed symptom duration and extent of resection significantly affected diagnosis-to-intracranial metastasis (DTIM) (extent of resection as an independent factor, P < 0.05). Overall survival analysis demonstrated that the IM site, pathology type, and intracranial metastasis-to-outcome (IMTO) significantly influenced patient prognosis (P < 0.05). Multivariate analysis confirmed DTIM and IMTO as independent predictors of overall survival (P < 0.05). Maximal safe resection with adjuvant therapy remains of paramount importance. Extending the DTIM and IMTO through tailored therapeutic strategies significantly enhances survival outcomes in patients with SCGs complicated by IM.