PREGNANCY COMPLICATED BY MEDULLOBLASTOMA WITH METASTASES TO THE PLACENTA

Background: Maternal malignancy may complicate as many as one in 1000 pregnancies. Rarely, the tumor may metastasize to the products of conc eption. We here describe a case of medulloblastoma metastatic to the p lacenta. Case: A 21-year-old woman who had previously undergone resect ion of a posterior fossa medulloblastoma was admitted at 20 weeks' ges tation complaining of low back pain. Investigation revealed medullobla stoma metastatic to the bone marrow. The pregnancy was prolonged to 29 weeks' gestation, at which time she was delivered by cesarean. The po stoperative course was complicated by coagulopathy, massive bleeding, and pneumonia leading to death. Autopsy showed medulloblastoma metasta tic to the bone marrow and placenta. Conclusion: Primary intracranial neoplasms may metastasize to the products of conception. The dramatic course of the disease in this patient may suggest that medulloblastoma is responsive to hormonal therapy.