Peritoneal seeding of a cerebral malignant astrocytoma via a ventriculo-peritoneal shunt.

Except for glioblastomas, metastases of astrocytomas and of intracerebral tumors are in general very rare. It is well known that the process of spreading can be provoked or accelerated by surgical procedures. The presented patient, with the initial diagnosis of grade III astrocytoma developed peritoneal metastases after placement of a ventriculo-peritoneal shunt.