Pediatric Rhabdoid Meningioma with Extension to the Heart: A First Case Report and Literature Review

Abstract

Background: Meningiomas are the most common benign intracranial neoplasms in adults, but they have a lower incidence in children. Rhabdoid meningioma is a rare subtype of meningioma and is classified as World Health Organization grade III. Case Description: We present a very rare case of a 9-year-old boy who presented to our institution with a history of headache, dizziness, and vomiting without neurologic deficit. The investigation showed a posterior fossa tumor with hemorrhage inside and hydrocephalus. He underwent tumor resection, and pathology showed rhabdoid meningioma. The patient had extensive recurrence after only 5 months, including extension to the neck, mediastinal veins, and heart. He was treated surgically and received adjuvant chemotherapy followed by radiation therapy. Conclusions: Rhabdoid meningioma is a malignant subtype of meningioma that occurs very rarely in pediatric patients. Additionally, rhabdoid meningioma, when it does occur in pediatric patients, has a high tendency to recur. Radical surgical resection with adjuvant radiotherapy is essential to prolonging survival. This is the first case with extracranial extension to the mediastinal veins and heart.