Ectopic intracranial retinoblastoma in a 3.5-month-old infant without eye involvement and without evidence of heritability

Pediatr Blood Cancer. 2019 May;66(5):e27599. doi: 10.1002/pbc.27599. Epub 2019 Jan 2.

Abstract

Heritable retinoblastoma can rarely be associated with a midline intracranial neuroblastic tumor, referred to as trilateral retinoblastoma. We present an unusual midline brain tumor in an infant that was identified as ectopic retinoblastoma by histopathology, DNA methylation analysis, and molecular genetic detection of biallelic somatic inactivation of the RB1 gene. There was no ocular involvement, and germline mutation was excluded. In this nonresectable tumor, treatment with systemic chemotherapy including high-dose therapy with autologous stem cell transplantation, but without definite local therapy, resulted in long-lasting tumor control.

Keywords: DNA methylation analysis; RB1 mutation; ectopic retinoblastoma; high-dose chemotherapy.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Brain Neoplasms / genetics
  • Brain Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Brain Neoplasms / therapy
  • Genetic Predisposition to Disease*
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Male
  • Mutation*
  • Prognosis
  • Retinal Neoplasms / genetics
  • Retinal Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Retinal Neoplasms / therapy
  • Retinoblastoma / genetics
  • Retinoblastoma / pathology*
  • Retinoblastoma / therapy
  • Retinoblastoma Binding Proteins / genetics*
  • Stem Cell Transplantation
  • Transplantation, Autologous
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases / genetics*

Substances

  • RB1 protein, human
  • Retinoblastoma Binding Proteins
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases