Medulloblastoma with multi-lineage differentiation including myogenic and melanotic elements: a case report with molecular data

Clin Neuropathol. 2014 Mar-Apr;33(2):122-7. doi: 10.5414/NP300675.

Abstract

We present an unusual medulloblastoma in a 3.9-year-old boy who had a 2-week history of nausea and vertigo. MRI revealed a 5×5.5×5 cm sized tumor located in the fourth ventricle and spinal leptomeningeal dissemination. The patient was treated according to the MET-HIT 2000-BIS4 protocol but showed tumor progression after 6 months and died 9 months postoperatively. Histopathologically and immunohistochemically, the tumor showed PNET-like areas with focal anaplasia, admixed rhabdomyoblastic and pigmented elements, cartilage and bone formation, as well as areas with neurocytic and glial differentiation. Neither CTNNB1 mutation nor MYCC/MYCN amplification was detected. The combination of rhabdomyoblastic and melanotic elements in medulloblastoma is exceptionally rare. Although the histopathological features suggested a teratoid tumor, the endodermal cell lineage required for this diagnosis was not present. An atypical teratoid-rhabdoid tumor was ruled out due to the presence of the INI1-protein. Regarding the molecular profile with 1q and 17q chromosomal gains and loss of chromosome 8, this tumor could be compatible with a molecular medulloblastoma Group 3 or 4. Yet, it cannot be definitively ruled out that medulloblastomas with multi-lineage differentiation represent a distinct subgroup of medulloblastoma, and it remains to be clarified whether these tumors are associated with a distinct clinical behavior.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cell Differentiation
  • Cell Lineage
  • Cerebellar Neoplasms / genetics
  • Cerebellar Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Cerebellar Neoplasms / therapy
  • Chemoradiotherapy
  • Child, Preschool
  • Combined Modality Therapy
  • DNA / genetics
  • Exons / genetics
  • Fatal Outcome
  • Humans
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Male
  • Medulloblastoma / genetics
  • Medulloblastoma / pathology*
  • Medulloblastoma / therapy
  • Melanosis / pathology*
  • Neurosurgical Procedures / methods
  • Paraffin Embedding
  • Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide
  • Tissue Fixation
  • beta Catenin / genetics

Substances

  • CTNNB1 protein, human
  • beta Catenin
  • DNA