Complete remission of a diffuse pontine glioma.
A patient is described in whom a large diffuse glioma of the pons extending into the midbrain was diagnosed at the age of 2 years. Biopsy showed a fibrillary astrocytoma. After shunting of a hydrocephalus, the clinical symptoms abated without conventional therapy. Repeated MRI studies showed a continuous decrease of the tumour which was no longer visible when the patient was 6.6 years old. In reviews on spontaneous remissions of oncologic disorders we were unable to find a case of a biologically benign brain stem tumour. There is one isolated report on a similar case, though without histologic documentation.
Department of Paediatrics, University of Düsseldorf, Germany.
H G
HG
Lenard
V
V
Engelbrecht
G
G
Janssen
W
W
Wechsler
C
C
Tautz
D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005910:Glioma / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D006849:Hydrocephalus / Q000628:therapy; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D014784:Mistletoe; D009365:Neoplasm Regression, Spontaneous; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010940:Plant Proteins; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D011149:Pons; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D010936:Plant Extracts; D010940:Plant Proteins; C077177:viscum album peptide