Brain Tumors of Infancy - An Institutional Experience and Review of the Literature

Abstract

Introduction: Brain tumors in infants are rare and form a distinct subgroup of pediatric brain tumors. These tumors differ from tumors in older children with respect to histology and management and tend to have a poorer outcome. Methods: We analyzed 31 consecutive cases of brain tumors in infancy managed in our institute in the last 15 years and reviewed the published literature since 1990. Results: Only 2 of these patients had congenital tumors. Choroid plexus tumors were the most common histological subtype, followed by medulloblastoma; 62% of patients underwent a gross total or near-total excision of the tumor with 1 perioperative mortality; 68% of patients had a good outcome. Conclusion: Choroid plexus tumors were the most common histological type. Safe resection should be the goal of surgery. Surgeries for tumors in this age group were associated with lower rates of total excision and higher morbidity. Low-grade lesions as expected are associated with longer survival; however, long-term outcomes are far from satisfactory.