Intracranial leptomeningeal CNS ganglioneuroblastoma. First report and review of the literature

Abstract

Background

CNS ganglioneuroblastoma in an extremely rare embryonal tumour, specifically in the pediatric population. Bad prognosis is documented due to aggressiveness and absence of protocolized treatment at the moment.

Clinical description

We present the case of a 5-year-old boy who presented with sudden loss of consciousness. CT scan was performed showing a large posterior fossa lesion with several intraventricular focal lesions, suggesting metastases, the largest one located inside the III ventricle. The patient underwent a posterior fossa resection of the lesion and a subtotal resection of the III ventricle lesion, with adjuvant chemotherapy. The evolution was poor and the patient finally died 3 months after diagnosis.

Conclusion

Ganglioneuroblastoma is extremely likely to recur quickly and extensively. There is little knowledge about treatment options but is documented that gross total resection followed by adjuvant radiotherapy and chemotherapy is the best management in these patients.

Keywords:

• Central nervous system neoplasms
• ganglioneuroblastoma
• ventricular
• supratentorial
• infratentorial
• intracranial metastases

Disclosure statement

The authors report there are no competing interests to declare.