Metastatic pineoblastoma via a ventriculoperitoneal shunt: CT demonstration

We report the CT findings in a patient with pineoblastoma metastatic to the peritoneum via a VP shunt. A large, soft tissue tumor mass was revealed in the pelvis with associated peritoneal seeding and ascites. The initial intracranial tumor biopsy and later biopsy of metastatic peritoneal tumor demonstrated identical tissue diagnostic for pineoblastoma. Patients with intracranial malignant neoplasms and VP shunts will be followed during or after treatment with MRI brain scans. Periodic CT abdomen scans should be obtained to detect potential peritoneal metastases early to allow more effective treatment.