Peritoneal metastasis of a pineoblastoma in a patient with a ventriculo-peritoneal shunt]

A 12 years old child had an increase of intra cranial pressure secondary to a large pinealoblastoma. A ventriculo peritoneal shunt procedure was performed followed several days later by a partial resection of the pinealoblastoma. One year later, ultrasound and computed tomography examinations discovered a solid mass in the pelvis. At surgery it appeared to be a metastasis of the pinealoblastoma. It is a very seldom complication of the shunt and various mechanisms are discussed.