Choroid plexus tumours are rare epithelial brain tumours and limited information is available regarding their biology and the best treatment. A meta-analysis was done to determine prognostic factors and the influence of various treatment modalities. A thorough review of the medical literature (1966 -1998) revealed 566 well-documented choroid plexus tumours. These were entered into a database, which was analysed to determine prognostic factors and treatment modalities. Most patients with a supratentorial tumour were children, while the most common sites in adults were the fourth ventricle and the cerebellar pontine angle. Cerebellar pontine angle tumours were more frequently benign. Histology was the most important prognostic factor, as one, five, and 10-year projected survival rates were 90, 81, and 77% in choroid plexus-papilloma (n=353) compared to only 71, 41, and 35% in choroid plexus-carcinoma respectively (P50.0005). Surgery was prognostically relevant for both choroid plexus-papilloma (P=0.0005) and choroid plexus-carcinoma (P=0.0001). Radiotherapy was associated with significantly better survival in choroid plexus-carcinomas. Eight of 22 documented choroid plexus-carcinomas responded to chemotherapy. Relapse after primary treatment was a poor prognostic factor in choroid plexus-carcinoma patients but not in choroid plexus-papilloma patients. Treatment of choroid plexus tumours should start with radical surgical resection. This should be followed by adjuvant treatment in case of choroid plexus-carcinoma, and a 'wait and see' approach in choroid plexus-papilloma.

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Malignant rhabdoid tumor (MRT) is a rare tumor occurring mostly in kidneys and central nervous system (CNS). Its prognosis is not good. Occasionally, MRTs are diagnosed at or immediately after birth. A female neonate presented with MRT in the chest wall, axilla, right elbow, and bone marrow. Chest wall lesion was resected completely. Although the masses in axilla and bone marrow responded rapidly to chemotherapy, the elbow lesion increased in size. Despite intense treatment, the tumor relapsed in lungs and the patient died 12 months after diagnosis. Review of the literature showed twenty additional congenital MRTs arising from sites outside of the kidney and central nervous system were published in the literature. Eighteen patients had disseminated disease at diagnosis. The median overall survival time for all (n = 21) patients was 2.0 months (0-24 months). The only patient who survived had a localized tumor at initial diagnosis. Congenital, extrarenal, non-CNS MRTs are aggressive tumors with poor outcome.