OBJECTIVEDiffuse intrinsic pontine
glioma (
DIPG) is a highly aggressive and lethal
brainstem tumor in children. In the 1980s, routine biopsy at presentation was abandoned since it was claimed "unnecessary" for diagnosis. In the last decade, however, several groups have reincorporated this procedure as standard of care or in the context of clinical trials. Expert neurosurgical teams report no mortality and acceptable morbidity, and no relevant complications have been previously described. The aim of this study was to review needle tract dissemination as a potential complication in
DIPG.METHODSThe authors retrospectively analyzed the incidence of dissemination through surgical tracts in
DIPG patients who underwent biopsy procedures at diagnosis in 3 dedicated centers. Clinical records and images as well as radiation dosimetry from diagnosis to relapse were reviewed.RESULTSFour patients (2 boys and 2 girls, age range 6-12 years) had surgical tract dissemination: in 3 cases in the needle tract and in 1 case in the Ommaya
catheter tract. The median time from biopsy to identification of dissemination was 5 months (range 4-6 months). The median overall survival was 11 months (range 7-12 months). Disseminated lesions were in the marginal
radiotherapy field (n = 2), out of the field (n = 1), and in the
radiotherapy field (n = 1).CONCLUSIONSAlthough surgical tract dissemination in
DIPG is a rare complication (associated with 2.4% of procedures in this study), it should be mentioned to patients and family when procedures involving a surgical tract are proposed. The inclusion of the needle tract in the
radiotherapy field may have only limited benefit. Future studies are warranted to explore the benefit of larger
radiotherapy fields in patients with
DIPG.