Intracranial Myxoid Mesenchymal Tumor with Rare EWSR1-CREM Translocation

Pediatr Neurosurg. 2019;54(5):347-353. doi: 10.1159/000501695. Epub 2019 Aug 20.

Abstract

Translocations between EWSR1 and members of the CREB family of transcription factors (CREB1, ATF1, and CREM) are rare genetic findings occurring in various sarcomas. Of these, the EWSR1-CREM translocation is the most rarely reported. We present the case of a 9-year-old boy who presented with a year of fatigue, weight loss, and abulia. A brain MRI revealed a frontal interhemispheric tumor arising from the falx. After resection, pathology demonstrated a myxoid mesenchymal tumor with an EWSR1-CREM translocation. A series of recent reports of similar tumors has generated ongoing debate in the literature over the classification of these tumors either as intracranial angiomatoid fibrous histiocytomas, which also harbor EWSR1-CREB family translocations, or as a novel diagnostic entity. The present case provides another example of the rare EWSR1-CREM fusion in an intracranial myxoid mesenchymal tumor that recurred in just 6 months despite gross total resection. The findings are discussed in the context of the existing literature and the ongoing effort to appropriately classify this type of tumor.

Keywords: EWSR1; EWSR1-CREM; Myxoid tumor; Pediatric brain tumors.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Brain Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging
  • Brain Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Brain Neoplasms / surgery
  • Child
  • Cyclic AMP Response Element Modulator / genetics*
  • Histiocytoma, Malignant Fibrous / diagnostic imaging
  • Histiocytoma, Malignant Fibrous / genetics*
  • Histiocytoma, Malignant Fibrous / surgery
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / diagnostic imaging
  • Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / genetics*
  • Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / surgery
  • RNA-Binding Protein EWS / genetics*
  • Translocation, Genetic / genetics*

Substances

  • CREM protein, human
  • EWSR1 protein, human
  • RNA-Binding Protein EWS
  • Cyclic AMP Response Element Modulator

Supplementary concepts

  • Histiocytoma, Angiomatoid Fibrous