Clinical Presentation, Treatment, and Outcomes of Pediatric Brain Tumors: A 5-Year Single-Center Experience in Istanbul

Abstract

Background: Brain tumors are the most common solid tumors in childhood. With the help of increased clinical awareness, improvements in imaging methods, and the identification of molecular characteristics, advances have been made in both diagnosis and treatment. Objectives: In our study, we aimed to discuss the childhood brain tumor cases followed in our clinic, along with their clinical and epidemiological features and treatment outcomes. Methods: The study group comprised children younger than 18 years old who were followed in the Pediatric Hematology and Oncology Clinic of Istanbul Medical Faculty and diagnosed with a brain tumor over the past 5 years (2018 - 2023). Symptoms, age at diagnosis, treatment options (surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy), and side effects were reviewed retrospectively. Results: Thirty children were diagnosed with brain tumors. Of the patients, 14 (47%) were male and 16 (53%) were female. The mean age of the children was 8.8 ± 3.1 years, and the mean age at diagnosis was 65.6 ± 37.7 months. The most common symptom was vomiting (40%). The mean duration between the onset of symptoms and diagnosis was 3.8 months, with a median of 1 month. Of the patients, 60% were diagnosed with glial tumors and 40% with non-glial tumors. Gross total resection (GTR) was performed in 26% of patients, subtotal resection (STR) in 37%, and 37% of patients did not undergo surgery. Seventy-seven percent of the patients received chemotherapy, and 57% received radiotherapy. Of the patients, 57% were considered responsive to treatment (complete/partial), 30% had stable disease, and 13% had progressive disease. The overall brain tumor mortality rate in our clinic was 13%. While 73% of our 26 patients had no or mild neurological deficits, 27% had moderate to severe disabilities (gait impairment, hearing impairment, visual impairment). Conclusion: Although the sample size was limited, it may be speculated that the surgery rate was low and long-term side effects were notable. Insufficient surgical resection can affect the treatment response and increase the risk of neurological sequelae and functional impairment. Molecular profiling should be expanded, and a palliative care team should be involved as early as possible to address long-term side effects and improve the quality of life for patients.