Atypical Teratoid/rhabdoid Tumors of the Central Nervous System: Clinical, Radiographic and Pathologic Features

Introduction: Atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumors (ATT/RT) of the central nervous system (CNS) are uncommon malignancies of childhood with an aggressive course and a uniformly fatal outcome.

Methods: The medical records, radiographic images and pathologic files at the Rainbow Babies and Childrens Hospital over the previous 6 years were retrospectively reviewed.

Results: Eight children underwent surgery for CNS ATT/RT at our institution since 1996. There were 6 boys and 2 girls. Median age at presentation was 21 months. Four tumors had multifocal disease at the time of diagnosis. Six patients received multiagent chemotherapy including 3 patients with autologous bone marrow transplantation, and 6 patients received radiation therapy. Median survival was 9 months from the time of diagnosis.

Conclusions: In spite of aggressive therapy, the prognosis for ATT/RT remains dismal. The search for effective treatment strategies will require a better understanding of the biology and molecular genetics of this tumor.