Pontine tumor in a neonate: Case report and analysis of the current literature

Constanze Buus-Gehrig, Thomas Lehrnbecher, Luciana Porto, Martina Becker, Thomas Freiman, Michel Mittelbronn, Konrad Bochennek*

*Corresponding author for this work

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticleResearchpeer-review

    1 Citation (Scopus)

    Abstract

    Tumors of the central nervous system represent the largest group of solid tumors found in pediatric patients. Pilocytic astrocytoma is the most common pediatric glioma, mostly located in the posterior fossa. The majority of brainstem tumors, however, are classified as highly aggressive diffuse intrinsic pontine gliomas (DIPGs) and their prognosis is dismal. The authors report on the case of a neonate in whom MRI and neuropathological assessment were used to diagnose DIPG. Before initiation of the planned chemotherapy, the tumor regressed spontaneously, and the newborn exhibited a normal neurological development. Meanwhile, Illumina Human Methylation450 BeadChip analysis reclassified the tumor as pilocytic astrocytoma of the posterior fossa. In conclusion, the authors advocate not initiating immediate intensive therapy in newborns with brain tumors, even with classical appearance of a DIPG; rather, they would like to encourage a biopsy to define the best individual therapeutic approach and avoid ineffective chemotherapy.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)606-612
    Number of pages7
    JournalJournal of Neurosurgery: Pediatrics
    Volume23
    Issue number5
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 1 May 2019

    Keywords

    • Biopsy
    • Newborn
    • Oncology
    • Pontine tumor
    • Spontaneous regression

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