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Pathogenic germline variation in DICER1 confers an autosomal dominant predisposition to tumor formation at multiple primary sites, including pleuropulmonary blastoma, pulmonary cysts, thyroid gland neoplasia, ovarian tumors, and cystic nephroma. Other syndromic features such as macrocephaly have been described.
No HPO annotations are available for this condition.
Age of onset: childhood.
To date, more than 1,000 individuals have been identified with a germline pathogenic variant in DICER1 including literature reports and unpublished International PPB/DICER1 Registry and NIH Natural History Study data. The following description of the phenotypic features associated with this condition is based on these reports. Studies to date have focused on germline DICER1 pathogenic variants occurring in children with pleuropulmonary blastoma (PPB), in girls and women with ovarian sex cord-stromal tumors, children with cystic nephroma, and families with thyroid hyperplasia as well as other tumor types. The majority of tumors reported in individuals with a germline DICER1 pathogenic variant occur in individuals younger than age 40 years. Less is known about the risk for malignancies or other conditions in older adults with a germline DICER1 pathogenic variant. Table 2. Select Features of DICER1 Tumor Predisposition
Feature | % of Persons w/DICER1 Germline Pathogenic Variant w/Feature | Comment |
|---|---|---|
Macrocephaly | ~42% | — |
Pleuropulmonaryblastoma | Lung cysts / type Ir PPB in 25%-40%; PPB types I, II, III in 10% | 65% of children w/PPB had a DICER1 germline pathogenic variant. |
Multinodular goiter | 32% of women; 13% of men | By age 20 yrs |
75% of women; 17% of men | By age 40 yrs Ovarian sex cord-stromal tumors | 10% |
Cystic nephroma | ≤10% | — |
Ciliary bodymedulloepithelioma | ~3% | — |
Differentiated thyroidcarcinoma | Rare | 16- to 24-fold risk |
Nasalchondromesenchymalhamartoma | Rare | ~1% of persons ascertained by family history (non-probands) |
Other tumors | Rare | Embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma, pituitary blastoma, pineoblastoma, CNS sarcomas, presacral malignant teratoid tumor, other CNS embryonal tumors/ETMR-like |
Multicystic hepaticlesions | Very rare2 | CNS = central nervous system; ETMR = embryonal tumor with multilayer rosettes; PPB = pleuropulmonary blastoma; SLCT = Sertoli-Leydig cell tumor; type Ir PPB = regressed or nonprogressed PPB 1. 2. Pleuropulmonary blastoma (PPB) occurs primarily in very young children. |
Source: GeneReviews — "DICER1 Tumor Predisposition"
DICER1 tumor predisposition (DICER1) should be suspected in individuals with the following tumors and/or clinical features:
Source: GeneReviews — "DICER1 Tumor Predisposition"
Congenital pulmonary airway malformation (CPAM) or congenital cystic adenomatoid malformation (CCAM). Type I PPB cannot be distinguished radiographically from benign congenital cystic lung malformations; however, pneumothoraces and the presence of multifocal or bilateral cysts are more common in PPB than in other conditions. The difficulties in distinguishing PPB from CPAM have led some pediatric surgeons to advocate excision of all CCAMs . Pulmonary sequestrations and peripheral bronchogenic cysts are more complex lesions that are commonly diagnosed prenatally. Although their radiographic and histologic features should facilitate differentiation from PPB , there is one report of a pulmonary sequestration in an individual with DICER1 .
Source: GeneReviews — "DICER1 Tumor Predisposition"
Biomarker and diagnostic research for DICER1-related tumor predisposition has been reported in the published literature.
No approved treatments are currently available for DICER1-related tumor predisposition. The disease remains an area of unmet medical need.
For an individual diagnosed with a DICER1 tumor predisposition (DICER1), the two considerations for evaluations following initial diagnosis are:
The extent of disease spread (staging) for malignant or potentially malignant DICER1-associated tumors;
The presence of other synchronous DICER1 conditions .
Pleuropulmonary blastoma types I and Ir. Initial imaging and follow-up imaging should include chest CT. No metastatic potential is associated with this type; thus, the only additional evaluation is for synchronous DICER1-associated tumors and clinical features .
Pleuropulmonary blastoma types II and III
CT of the chest to evaluate extent of disease and completeness of resection
Brain MRI to evaluate for metastatic disease. This should be performed at diagnosis and throughout treatment and follow up.
Radionuclide bone scan and/or PET scan to evaluate for metastatic disease and as a baseline relative to follow-up imaging
Echocardiography as needed to define intracardiac extension of tumor, tumor thrombi, or pericardial effusion
Rarely, spine MRI for paraspinal or intraspinal extension
In the event of systemic embolization and any suggestion of vascular involvement (facial plethora, vena cava syndrome, cardiac murmur), investigation with vascular ultrasound examination
CT of the abdomen/pelvis to assess for liver or other intraabdominal metastases
Note: Bone marrow involvement is extremely rare.
Source: GeneReviews — "DICER1 Tumor Predisposition"
5 trials found
Surveillance guidelines for individuals with a germline DICER1 pathogenic variant have been established . Provider and individual/family education is the cornerstone of surveillance. Individuals and caregivers should be advised of signs and symptoms of concern. Note that if signs of tumor are detected, additional evaluation will be needed. This table is not intended to address post-tumor surveillance.
Table 4.
Recommended Surveillance for Individuals with DICER1 Tumor Predisposition
System/Concern | Evaluation | Frequency
Pleuropulmonary
blastoma | Clinical eval as indicated for any signs/symptoms (e.g., tachypnea, cough, fever, pain, pneumothorax) | Prompt eval for any signs/symptoms of concern
Chest CT chest x-ray | • Chest x-ray at birth, every 4-6 mos until age 8 yrs, then annually until age 12
Consider chest CT at age 3-6 mos. If initial CT normal: consider repeat CT at age 2.5-3 yrs.
If diagnosed after age 12 yrs, consider baseline chest x-ray or chest CT.
Multinodular goiter /
thyroid gland neoplasia | Thyroid physical exam for thyroid gland asymmetry /or nodules | • At diagnosis (any age)
Annually
Thyroid US | • Consider US by age 8 yrs.1 If normal, consider repeat US every 3-5 yrs.
Earlier for thyroid gland asymmetry /or nodules
Post-chemotherapy: By age 10 yrs or w/in 3-5 yrs of treatment
Thyroid function testing | If clinical signs/symptoms of hypo- or hyperthyroidism
Ovarian sex cord-
stromal tumors (
other tumors of the
female genital tract
Source: GeneReviews — "DICER1 Tumor Predisposition"
5 clinical trials registered, 3 recruiting. Interventions under study include other interventions. Research is primarily sponsored by academic and government institutions.
NCT ID | Title | Phase | Sponsor | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
[NCT03050268](https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT03050268) | Familial Investigations of Childhood Cancer Predisposition | — | St. Jude Children's Research Hospital | RECRUITING |
[NCT03382158](https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT03382158) | International PPB/DICER1 Registry | — | Children's Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota | UNKNOWN |
[NCT06523582](https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06523582) | Genetic Bases of Neuroendocrine Neoplasms in Mexican Patients | — | Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico | RECRUITING |
[NCT01247597](https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT01247597) | DICER1-related Pleuropulmonary Blastoma Cancer Predisposition Syndrome: A Natural History Study | — | National Cancer Institute (NCI) | RECRUITING |
[NCT07005297](https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT07005297) | Clinical Genetics Branch Eligibility Screening Survey | — | National Cancer Institute (NCI) | NOT_YET_RECRUITING |
79 publications have been identified in PubMed for DICER1-related tumor predisposition. Research spans Case Report / Case Series (43%), Review / Meta-Analysis (33%), and Basic Science / Preclinical (10%).
Research Type | Count | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
Patient case studies | 34 | 43% |
Research summaries | 26 | 33% |
Laboratory research | 8 | 10% |
Disease patterns and progression | 7 | 9% |
Other research | 2 | 3% |
Testing and diagnosis research | 2 |
Siegmund SE (2026). [PMID: 42151003](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42151003/). *Semin Diagn Pathol*. [Review / Meta-Analysis]
Karthikeyan V (2026). [PMID: 42051918](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42051918/). *Fortune J Health Sci*. [Epidemiology / Natural History]
Liu Y (2026). [PMID: 41749444](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41749444/). *Postgrad Med*. [Case Report / Case Series]
Yang G (2026). [PMID: 41723053](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41723053/). *Pathology*. [Other]
Kim HS (2026). [PMID: 41243833](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41243833/). *Adv Anat Pathol*. [Review / Meta-Analysis]
Němejcová K (2026). [PMID: 41731128](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41731128/). *Virchows Arch*. [Case Report / Case Series]
Lee H (2026). [PMID: 41792231](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41792231/). *Exp Mol Med*. [Review / Meta-Analysis]
Koleják R (2026). [PMID: 41236848](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41236848/). *Int J Surg Pathol*. [Case Report / Case Series]
Rothbort D (2026). [PMID: 42112239](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42112239/). *MicroPubl Biol*. [Basic Science / Preclinical]
Xie C (2026). [PMID: 41868667](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41868667/). *Am J Cancer Res*. [Case Report / Case Series]
Data assembled from 5 of 12 sources · Last updated Sep 19, 2026, 11:56 AM UTC
European rare disease database
Genetic and Rare Diseases Info Center
Common questions about DICER1-related tumor predisposition