Abstract
A patient is described in whom a large diffuse glioma of the pons extending into the
midbrain was diagnosed at the age of 2 years. Biopsy showed a fibrillary astrocytoma.
After shunting of a hydrocephalus, the clinical symptoms abated without conventional
therapy. Repeated MRI studies showed a continuous decrease of the tumour which was
no longer visible when the patient was 6.6 years old.
In reviews on spontaneous remissions of oncologic disorders we were unable to find
a case of a biologically benign brain stem tumour. There is one isolated report on
a similar case, though without histologic documentation.
Key words
Pediatric brain tumours - Pontine glioma
