Role of radical surgery for intracranial melanotic neuroectodermal tumor of infancy: case report.

Abstract

Melanotic neuroectodermal tumor of infancy (MNTI) is a rare, locally aggressive tumor that arises most commonly from the maxilla or mandible. Infrequently, it originates from the cranial vault, and recent reports have described a favorable outcome after radical surgery. Some lesions are particularly problematic, such as those located along the cranial midline or cranial base and those with significant intracranial extension. Currently, there is no effective adjuvant therapy for MNTI; radiation is precluded by the patients' young age, and chemotherapy trials have not demonstrated long-term efficacy.