INTRAAXIAL ENDOPHYTIC PRIMITIVE NEUROECTODERMAL TUMORS IN THE PONS - CLINICAL, RADIOLOGICAL, AND IMMUNOHISTOCHEMICAL ASPECTS IN 4 CHILDREN

We present the clinical findings, radiological aspects, operative resu lts, and histopathological features of four typical primitive neuroect odermal tumors (PNET) located in the pontine region in children. All t he tumors had an endophytic intra-axial growth pattern. All the childr en had a short history of severe neurological deficits with involvemen t of the cranial nerves and pyramidal tract. MRI did not reveal any co mmon feature of malignancy. Compared to our successful experience in o perations of intra-axial endophytic brainstem tumors in a total of 32 children, the outcome was poor: all 4 children died within 13 months. We conclude that PNET occurring in the pens is not as rare as was beli eved, and, compared to PNET in other areas the prognosis is worse.