The patient has a prior history of ganglioneurocytoma of the cervical spine diagnosed two years earlier treated with multiple resections and radiotherapy. 

Primary CNS tumors which may give rise to CSF disseminated metastases include anaplastic astrocytoma, glioblastoma multiforme, ependymoma, medulloblastoma, germinoma and choroid plexus carcinoma. Non-CNS tumors may also give this pattern, including bronchogenic carcinoma and breast carcinoma, melanoma, lymphoma and leukemia.

Image contributed by: Dr Laughlin Dawes.