Neuroblastoma: Incidental Craniocerebral Metastasis - A Case Report

Abstract

Neuroblastoma has been attributed the term "the great imitator" due to its varied spectrum of presentations. Although neuroblastoma is a common childhood malignancy, which frequently metastasizes, involvement of the Central nervous system is rarely reported in the literature. It commonly metastasizes to the base of the skull and orbits late in the disease. Early detection and aggressive treatment of this complication may allow some patients to live longer than they would have otherwise.

An atypical imaging characteristic of calvarial metastasis of neuroblastoma as multiple multi-loculated cystic masses with internal blood-fluid levels: a case report

“…Owing to the wide range of neuronal differentiation of these original cells, this tumor shows a wide range of manifestations, thus the name "The great imitator" [3,5] new chemotherapeutic regimens have improved the survival rate of the patients, which makes it more probable for us to face with new appearances of neuroblastoma metastases, especially in the CNS -as a sanctuary for tumor cells- [5]. Calvarial/dural metastases occur in 25% of patients, and may sometimes precede the diagnosis of the main primary tumor [3,6,7]. As this hypothesis has been recently mentioned, that calvarial/dural metastases may be a potential origin of the brain parenchymal disease spread, identification of this entity becomes more critical in the early stage, to prevent further dissemination [8].…”