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Published on: February 22, 2015
Congenital glioblastoma
G M Milano1, C Cerri, V Ferruzzi
1Unit of Pediatric Oncology and Haematology, Ospedale S. Maria della Misericordia, A.O. di Perugia, Italy. giuseppemaria.milano@gmail.com
Insights
Congenital glioblastoma is rare but aggressive. Early aggressive treatment including surgery and chemotherapy can lead to positive outcomes, improving survival rates for affected infants.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Oncology
- Neuro-oncology
- Congenital Neoplasms
Background:
- Congenital glioblastoma is an extremely rare and aggressive brain tumor.
- Infant brain tumors have historically high mortality rates.
- Limited established treatment protocols exist for congenital brain tumors.
Observation:
- A case of a 2-day-old female with congenital glioblastoma successfully treated with total resection and adjuvant high-dose chemotherapy.
- Review of 67 congenital brain tumors revealed an 82% mortality rate.
- Only 5 out of 67 reviewed cases received adjuvant therapy, despite most being glioblastomas.
Findings:
- Aggressive multimodal treatment, including complete surgical resection and high-dose chemotherapy, can lead to favorable outcomes in congenital glioblastoma.
- The current case demonstrates long-term survival (18 months) following this treatment approach.
- Adjuvant therapy is underutilized in congenital glioblastoma cases.
Implications:
- Total or subtotal surgical resection followed by adjuvant and high-dose chemotherapy is recommended for optimal outcomes.
- The findings highlight the need for developing specific treatment protocols for congenital brain tumors.
- An international consensus is crucial for establishing standardized management strategies, beginning with congenital glioblastoma.
Abstract:
We describe the case a 2-day-old female with congenital glioblastoma. Total resection was followed by adjuvant and high dose chemotherapy, as indicated by the current Italian infant protocol. The child is alive and well 18 months after diagnosis. A review of 67 selected congenital brain tumors showed the mortality rate was 82%. Even though the majority of patients had glioblastoma, only 5/67 had received adjuvant therapy. To ensure optimal outcomes, we recommend total or subtotal surgical resection, followed by adjuvant and high dose chemotherapy. Given the lack specific protocols for congenital brain tumors an international consensus seems to be needed, starting with congenital glioblastoma.
