Clinics and Practice (Mar 2012)

Medulloblastoma: seeding of VP shunt tract and peritoneum

  • David Pettersson,
  • Kelli R. Schmitz,
  • Jeffrey M. Pollock,
  • Katharine L. Hopkins

DOI
https://doi.org/10.4081/cp.2012.e37
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 2, no. 2
pp. e37 – e37

Abstract

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We report on a 5-year-old boy with seeding of the peritoneum and a ventriculoperitoneal shunt tract by anaplastic medulloblastoma. The role of ventriculoperitoneal shunting in the spread of primary central nervous system tumors has been controversial. In the case reported here, the unique distribution of tumor implants on ultrasound and multiplanar computed tomography gives further credence to the argument that ventriculoperitoneal shunting is a pathway for extraneural metastases of primary central nervous system tumors.

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