International HIT-MED Registry (I-HIT-MED)

The I-HIT-MED registry registers clinical of children and adults with medulloblastoma, ependymoma, pineoblastoma, or CNS-primitive neuroectodermal tumour (CNS-PNET) in Germany and other countries that fulfil national ethic requirements for participation in this registry. These tumours are rare diseases, and many patients are treated outside of clinical trials. The I-HIT-MED registry allows collection of data und biological material from those patients, and provides a basis for standard treatment recommendations and counselling. It aims to improve the international cooperation and the medical knowledge in these rare diseases. Within the I-HIT-MED registry, it is a goal to maintain and improve networks for quality assurance in national groups where they are already established, and to support the implementation in national groups, where there is no quality assurance network yet.

The following patients can be included in this registry:

Children and adults with

* Medulloblastoma (MB)
* Ependymoma
* CNS-primitive neuroectodermal tumours (CNS-PNET) including CNS neuroblastoma, CNS ganglioneuroblastoma, Medulloepithelioma, Ependymoblastoma, CNS-PNET not otherwise specified (NOS)
* Pineoblastoma
* Pineal parenchymal tumour of intermediate differentiation
* Papillary tumour of the pineal region Who are not included in prospective clinical trials for these conditions

The objectives of this registry are

* To evaluate clinical data on the epidemiology of the above mentioned CNS-neoplasms, and the use and outcome of different treatment regimens, for patients who cannot be included in prospective trials.
* To provide guidelines to establish, maintain and improve systems for quality assurance in the diagnostic assessments and treatment of brain tumours.

To collect biological specimens (tumour, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), peripheral blood) and perform comprehensive biological studies with the aim to improve our understanding of these diseases and their aetiology, to improve therapy stratification and to improve or develop new treatment options.

- To collect clinical data for cooperative scientific projects (e.g. new follow-up studies, studies on quality of survival, neuropsychology etc.)

Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

* all patients with above mentioned diagnosis of all ages (except for ependymoma WHO I°, pineal parenchymal tumour of intermediate differentiation and papillary tumour of the pineal region, who will be registered only if primary diagnosis was before the 18th birthday)
* any localisation of the primary tumour
* all clinical stages
* First diagnosis after 01.01.2012
* No inclusion into a prospective clinical trial for the same diagnosis, due to non-eligibility, national lack of trial approval, or individual refusal of participation.
* Written informed consent for data transfer and tumour sample submission according to the laws of each participating country is necessary.
* National and/ or local ethical committee approval according to the laws of each participating country is necessary.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Registration in another clinical trial for the same diagnosis (relapse is defined as a second diagnosis).
* Lack of valid ethical committee approval.