CASE SUMMARY: A 27-year-old male, who was exposed to cranial irradiation at the age of 4 years as part of the treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, presented with symptoms of raised intracranial pressure for one week. Brain magnetic resonance imaging revealed a heterogeneously enhancing lesion at the hypothalamus. Stereotactic biopsy was performed. Histopathological examination of the lesion showed malignant rhabdoid tumour. The disease progressed rapidly, with manifestation of leptomeningeal spread. He was started on craniospinal irradiation but treatment was suspended after 5.4 Gy, as he developed myelosuppression. His clinical condition deteriorated rapidly, and he succumbed to his illness within 2 mo.
CONCLUSION: This fifth case of radiation-induced central nervous system rhabdoid tumour re-enforces the aggressive nature of this disease with poor prognosis.