Recurrence of dysembryoplastic neuroepithelial tumor following resection

Dysembryoplastic neuroepithelial tumor (DNT) is an increasingly recognized surgically curable tumor that characteristically presents with seizures in children. We report a case of a patient who underwent resection of a histologically proven DNT at 6 years of age. The resection was thought to be total at the time of surgery, and this impression was confirmed on postoperative imaging. Following the initial resection, the patient underwent surveillance imaging at regular intervals. Six years following the initial surgery, surveillance imaging demonstrated an enlarging area of signal abnormality at the site of the prior resection. The patient underwent a second resection with pathological confirmation of DNT recurrence. Although recurrence of DNT following resection is rare, this case suggests that surveillance imaging may have a role in patients with DNT, even following resections that are thought to be complete.