Intraventricular neurocytoma with massive brain stem involvement in a 5-year-old child.
BACKGROUND
Central neurocytoma is a tumor of neuronal origin that should be taken into consideration in the differential diagnosis of intraventricular neoplasms. Reports of neurocytomas with an extraventricular localization are rare: to our knowledge, the case described here is the first in which a neurocytoma developed within the ventricles but also invaded the brain stem.


METHODS
The authors describe the unusual case of a 5-year-old boy with an intraventricular neurocytoma presenting with massive involvement of the basal nuclei and the brain stem. The patient underwent first biopsy and then surgery for ventricular-peritoneal shunting and partial removal of the tumor. Histology showed the tumor to be a typical neurocytoma with Mib-1 <2%. The postoperative course was uneventful. At 3 years' follow-up, the patient's clinical condition is stable and there are no signs of disease progression.


CONCLUSIONS
The literature is reviewed and the characteristics of this unusual tumor are discussed.
Lenzi
Jacopo
J
Department of Neurosurgery, University La Sapienza, Rome, Italy. Jacopole@yahoo.it
Salvati
Maurizio
M
Frati
Alessandro
A
Raco
Antonino
A
Pichierri
Angelo
A
Giangaspero
Felice
F
Delfini
Roberto
R
D001933:Brain Stem / Q000473:pathology*; D002551:Cerebral Ventricle Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000601:surgery; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D018306:Neurocytoma / Q000150:complications* / Q000601:surgery