ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumors (ATRT) are aggressive pediatric central nervous system malignancies that predominantly affect the brain and have poor survival outcomes. However, spinal ATRT is an uncommon subset of ATRT, and its clinical course and management are poorly understood. CASE: We describe a case of spinal ATRT in a previously healthy 5-year-old girl who initially presented with rapid-onset gait disturbance. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed an extramedullary tumor at thoracic level 5 (T5) without bony destruction or metastasis. The patient partially recovered after surgical resection. One month was required for a definitive diagnosis, and the pathology confirmed ATRT characterized by the loss of INI-1 protein expression. Chemoradiotherapy with local irradiation and high-dose chemotherapy with autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation led to complete remission and functional recovery for 5 months. However, the condition exhibited progression in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) region, resulting in cerebellar, cerebral, and spinal tumor development. Eventually, the disease metastasized to the lungs and disseminated to the entire cerebrospinal cord and fluid. The patient died 15 months after the initial diagnosis. CONCLUSION: This case emphasizes the importance of considering ATRT as a potential diagnostic modality for pediatric spinal cord tumors, enabling prompt multidisciplinary intervention. The heterogeneous appearance of spinal ATRT may make distinguishing it from other spinal tumors difficult, resulting in delayed diagnosis and treatment. The treatment approach for ATRT remains challenging with no established standards. Local irradiation may be preferable to minimize neurodevelopmental effects, and initial craniospinal irradiation may potentially prevent recurrence. Our case emphasizes the likelihood of extracranial metastasis in ATRT, thereby highlighting the importance of a comprehensive assessment of both genetic and epigenetic profiles to identify any factors that may influence the clinical course of this disease. Prompt diagnosis and comprehensive therapeutic strategies are critical for improving outcomes in spinal ATRT patients.
ABSTRACT
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) omicron variants are now a pandemic. There are differences in clinical features in SARS-CoV-2 variants and we conducted this study to assess the clinical features of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in children with SARS-CoV-2 omicron variants. The study included children with COVID-19 arrivedto Tokyo Metropolitan Toshima Hospital between January 2020 and October 2022. The clinical features of 214 children with SARS-CoV-2 non-omicron variants and 557 children with omicron variants were compared. In the SARS-CoV-2 omicron variant group, more patients had fever, sore throat, nausea and/or vomiting, and seizures and/or disorders of consciousness. In SARS-CoV-2 non-omicron variants, there was only one patient with seizure and/or unconsciousness whereas there were 92 children in omicron variants. Among these 92 patients, 46 (49%) were diagnosed with simple febrile seizures; 23 (25%), with complex febrile seizures; 10 (11%) with status epilepticus; and two (2%) with encephalopathy. Their mean age was 4.0 ± 3.0 years-a wider age distribution than that in other febrile seizures but similar to that in febrile seizures in patients with influenza. SARS-CoV-2 omicron variants are likely to cause seizures and unconsciousness in children and their age distribution was wider than other febrile seizures patients but similar to those in influenza patients. In clinical practice in patients with COVID-19 and influenza, clinicians should be aware of these features.
