Primitive neuroectodermal tumor after radiation therapy for craniopharyngioma.

Abstract

The authors report a case of primitive neuroectodermal tumor induced by radiation therapy of craniopharyngioma. This African-American male patient originally presented with craniopharyngioma, for which he underwent resection and whole-brain radiation therapy. Eight years later, at the age of 20 years, he returned with a left facial droop and left hemiparesis. A right basal ganglia mass was identified and resected. Histopathological examination identified the lesion as primitive neuroectodermal tumor. Although radiation therapy has shown to be beneficial in decreasing the recurrence rate in subtotally resected craniopharyngioma, the risks of radiation treatment should be clearly communicated to the patients, their families, and neurosurgeons before starting such treatment. This report expands the spectrum of reported radiation-induced neoplasms in the CNS.

• Authors: Michael Chan, Sebastian R Herrera, Sergey Neckrysh, Adam Wallace, Tibor Valyi-Nagy, Fady T Charbel
• Journal: Neurosurgical focus (Neurosurg Focus) Vol. 30 Issue 1 Pg. E3 (Jan 2011) ISSN: 1092-0684 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 21194276 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)

Topics

• Adult
• Craniopharyngioma (radiotherapy)
• Humans
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging
• Male
• Neoplasms, Radiation-Induced (etiology)
• Neuroectodermal Tumors, Primitive (etiology)
• Pituitary Neoplasms (radiotherapy)
• Whole-Body Irradiation (adverse effects)