Concurrent delayed recurrence of peripheral primitive neuroectodermal tumors in orbital and sellar/suprasellar regions in an older adult

Background Peripheral primitive neuroectodermal tumors (pPNETs) are rare and aggressive small round cell tumors, tending to occur in the thoracic and paravertebral soft tissues in children and young adults. This report describes an exceptionally rare case of concurrent delayed recurrence of pPNET in the orbital and sellar/suprasellar regions in an older adult, with a discussion supported by a literature review. Case presentation We report an 82-year-old woman with a history of orbital pPNETs resection at age 62, followed by gamma knife radiosurgery for local recurrence at age 66. She presented left eye pain, left eye protrusion, decreased vision in the right eye, and right homonymous hemianopia. MRI revealed extensive lesions in the left orbital cavity and sellar/suprasellar region, contiguous through the optic canal. The recurrent tumor was treated through a two-stage resection via transcranial and transsphenoidal approaches, which resulted in symptom improvement and a pathologic diagnosis of pPNETs. Conclusion This case highlights a highly rare instance of late-onset orbital pPNETs recurrence in an elderly patient, with evidence suggesting tumor progression into the sellar/suprasellar regions through the optic canal.