title: Malignant ectomesenchymoma of the cerebrum. Case report and discussion of therapeutic options.
abstract: Malignant ectomesenchymoma is a rare tumour that contains both ectodermal and mesenchymal elements. Only three patients with a manifestation in the cerebrum and clinicopathological data have been reported until now. We present a patient with an intracerebral ectomesenchymoma, review the literature and discuss currently available therapeutic options. In a 10-year-old girl, a left suprasellar temporo-parieto-occipitally localised tumour was diagnosed. The tumour was completely excised macroscopically in two surgical sessions. For the mesenchymal part of the tumour she subsequently underwent multidrug chemotherapy followed by radiation therapy. Considering the neuroectodermal element of the tumour, radiotherapy was applied to the craniospinal axis with a local boost. Therapy was tolerated well without any severe side effects. Six years from diagnosis, the patient is alive without a tumour relapse.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Due to the sparcity of reported cases with malignant ectomesenchymoma, the role of adjuvant therapy is unclear. Multimodal therapy may be able to improve outcome.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiotherapy and Radiooncology, University of Göttingen, Robert-Koch-Strasse 40, 37075, Göttingen, Germany. eweiss@gwdg.de
authors.forename: Elisabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Weiss
authors.forename: Clemens F
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Albrecht
authors.forename: Jochen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Herms
authors.forename: Julianne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Behnke-Mursch
authors.forename: Arnulf
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pekrun
authors.forename: Knut
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Brockmann
authors.forename: Clemens F
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Hess
mesh_terms: D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D002540:Cerebral Cortex; D002648:Child; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008637:Mesenchymoma / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D017599:Neuroectodermal Tumors / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy