Current diagnostic and therapeutic management of CNS metastasis in childhood primitive neuroectodermal tumors and ependymomas

Metastatic disease is a major problem in the management of the most frequent childhood brain tumors, in ependymoma and primitive neuroectodermal tumors (PNET). Today, contrast enhanced craniospinal MRI and careful analysis of craniospinal fluid are a prerequisite for correct staging of both tumors and imply therapeutic consequences. So far metastatic spread of medulloblastoma and some ependymomas is prevented by conventional chemotherapy and radiotherapy. However, some forms of diffuse metastatic dissemination in medulloblastoma are resistant to conventional therapeutic regimens and require new experimental strategies.