Dural-based atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumor in an adult: DNA methylation profiling as a tool for the diagnosis

CNS Oncol. 2020 Jun;9(2):CNS54. doi: 10.2217/cns-2020-0006. Epub 2020 Jun 30.

Abstract

Atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumor (ATRT) is a malignant CNS embryonal tumor that mostly occurs in childhood, adult cases are rare. We report a case of a 23-year-old male with an extra-axial dura-based lesion in the left frontal area, previously diagnosed as gliosarcoma. After 6 years, the patient had a recurrence and the previous slides were reviewed. Tumor was positive for vimentin and negative for INI1. The differential diagnosis for this extra-axial tumor with long survival was rhabdoid meningioma with INI1 loss or ATRT. DNA methylation profiling was performed to reach the final and the most definitive diagnosis; the result was ATRT. Our case suggests the usefulness of DNA methylation profiling for diagnosing challenging CNS tumors.

Keywords: DNA methylation profiling; INI1 loss; atypical teratoid rhabdoid tumor; rhabdoid meningioma.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / genetics
  • Brain Neoplasms / diagnosis*
  • Brain Neoplasms / genetics
  • DNA Methylation*
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Gene Expression Profiling
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Rhabdoid Tumor / diagnosis
  • Rhabdoid Tumor / genetics*
  • Teratoma / diagnosis
  • Teratoma / genetics*
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Biomarkers, Tumor