[1] It is a rare tumor, usually occurring in children and young adults under 25 years of age.

Using gene transfer of SV40 large T-antigen in neuronal precursor cells of rats, a brain tumor model was established.

[citation needed] The peripheral PNET (pPNET) is now thought to be virtually identical to Ewing sarcoma: "Current evidence indicates that both Ewing's sarcoma and PNET have a similar neural phenotype and, because they share an identical chromosome translocation, they should be viewed as the same tumor, differing only in their degree of neural differentiation.

The approach to management of a CNS PNET is first to obtain detailed imaging through MRI, as well as additional scans of the patient's body (X-ray, CT, PET, even bone marrow biopsies) to look for metastasis or other associated malignancies.

After the diagnosis of a CNS PNET is confirmed, management includes neoadjuvant chemotherapy and radiation (to reduce tumor size burden), complete surgical resection with confirmed negative margins, and/or additional adjuvant post-surgical chemotherapy.