title: Congenital glioblastoma multiforme: complete resection with long-term survival and a novel technique of contralateral cystoventriculostomy.
abstract: Congenital glioblastomas are rare primary tumours of the central nervous system with poor prognosis if left untreated. We report the case of a 4-week-old infant with such a tumour treated by surgical excision and a course of postoperative chemotherapy. After the chemotherapy, the patient displayed a neurological deterioration and follow-up magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans revealed no signs of recurrence, but showed entrapment and significant distension of the right lateral ventricle. A novel technique of contralateral cystoventriculostomy was performed to attempt to decompress the cyst and improve the infant's neurological status. After surgery there was a significant neurological improvement, and 30 months after resection the child is alive, with mild hemiparesis and no signs of recurrence on follow-up MRI scan. The cystoventriculostomy is patent and continues to decompress the encapsulated ventricle.
authors.affiliation: Neurosurgical Department, Regional Neurosciences Centre, Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK. alexanderboukas@gmail.com
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Boukas
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Panaretos
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cowie
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Nicholson
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jenkins
mesh_terms: D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D003560:Cysts / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005909:Glioblastoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D020547:Lateral Ventricles / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014696:Ventriculostomy / Q000379:methods*