Central nervous system medulloepithelioma. A report of three cases

Central nervous system medulloepithelioma is a rare, highly malignant childhood tumor. It might be confused with medulloblastoma or other primitive neuroectodermal tumors, but it is quite particular by its clinical, radiological, and pathological features. The mean survival varies depending on whether or not a gross-total resection is possible. Adjuvant radiochemotherapy is often indicated. Only two reported cases in the literature survived beyond 4 years after treatment by gross total resection and radiotherapy without chemotherapy. We report three cases of supratentorial medulloepithelioma occurring in three children aged 11-17 years. Two patients underwent a gross-total resection followed by radiotherapy and survived more than 4 years after treatment. The third case had, however, recurred twice within the 1st postoperative month despite a complete resection each time and metastasis to the lung developed. Chemotherapy was then carried out after the third procedure and the patient died 7 months later. (C) 2010 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.