Congenital peripheral primitive neuroectodermal tumor: a case treated successfully with multimodality treatment

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Oncology
• Neonatal Medicine
• Cancer Biology

Background:

• Neonatal tumors are rare, accounting for less than 2% of childhood cancers.
• Solid tumors, such as teratoma and neuroblastoma, are the most common types in neonates.
• Primitive neuroectodermal tumors (PNETs) represent a challenging diagnostic and therapeutic group in this population.

Observation:

• A congenital right arm mass was detected via antenatal sonogram.
• Post-natal fine needle aspiration cytology diagnosed a primitive neuroectodermal tumor involving the triceps muscle.
• This represents a rare instance of congenital Ewing's sarcoma family of tumors.

Findings:

• The infant was successfully treated using a multimodality approach, including surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy.
• The study reviews reported cases of congenital Ewing's sarcoma family of tumors.
• Challenges in neonatal cancer therapy are discussed, including treatment-related side effects.

Implications:

• Multimodality treatment can be effective for neonatal primitive neuroectodermal tumors.
• There is a critical need for novel therapies to enhance treatment efficacy and reduce toxicity in neonates.
• Further research into congenital Ewing's sarcoma family of tumors is warranted to improve outcomes.