Long-term survival of an infant with an atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumor following subtotal resection and low-cumulative dose chemotherapy: a case report

Childs Nerv Syst. 2016 Jun;32(6):1157-61. doi: 10.1007/s00381-015-2999-5. Epub 2016 Jan 8.

Abstract

Introduction: Atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumor (AT/RT) is an aggressive embryonal tumor of the central nervous system with a generally dismal prognosis, especially in patients younger than 12 months.

Discussion: We here describe the unusual case of an infant with AT/RT with long-term survival despite low-cumulative dose chemotherapy after subtotal resection. Due to a poor neurological situation and an unfavorable oncological prognosis, therapy was halted after two partial surgical resections and four of the nine chemotherapy courses recommended by the European Rhabdoid Registry, without the patient receiving either radiotherapy or high-dose chemotherapy. The patient is alive without evidence of disease 52 months after diagnosis.

Conclusion: This case report highlights that independent prognostic factors are urgently needed for optimizing treatment stratification and preventing overtreatment.

Keywords: AT/RT; Chemotherapy; Childhood cancer; SMARCB1/Ini1.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Brain Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Brain Neoplasms / surgery*
  • Combined Modality Therapy
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Neurosurgical Procedures / methods*
  • Rhabdoid Tumor* / drug therapy
  • Rhabdoid Tumor* / mortality
  • Rhabdoid Tumor* / surgery

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents