Abstract
Abstract BACKGROUNDS Gliomas are the most common form of pediatric brain tumor. The primary obstacle to optimizing pediatric brain tumor health services, particularly in LMICs, is the lack of comprehensive epidemiological data. We aim to compile comprehensive data on pediatric gliomas, focusing on clinical profiles and outcomes within a national general hospital in Indonesia. METHODS A retrospective observational longitudinal study was performed at Cipto Mangunkusumo National General Hospital, focusing on glioma patients’ profiles and outcomes, registered under the pediatric CNS tumor service from January 2022 to December 2023. RESULTS Out of 50 suspected glioma patients, 28 patients (56%) underwent biopsy, 28% underwent other modalities (brainstem location), 12% were scheduled for surgery but had already died, 2% were in a watchful waiting mode, and 2% were scheduled for surgery but were lost to follow-up. Glioma-confirmed patients were predominantly female (57.1%), with a mean age of 7.11 ± 4.98. Low-grade gliomas predominated at 57.1%, a trend we attribute to Cipto Mangunkusumo’s status as a referral national hospital, where low-grade glioma cases may have been managed more frequently at lower-level hospitals. The majority of tumors were supratentorial (53.6%) compared to infratentorial (39.3%) and supra-infratentorial (7.1%). The most common symptoms were seizures (25%), followed by headaches (21.4%), disequilibrium (14.3%), and vomiting (10.7%). Moreover, the latter three symptoms exhibited a longer mean delay between symptom onset and medical consultation, potentially impacting prognosis. In the last follow-up, higher-grade gliomas demonstrated a significantly higher mortality rate at 28.6% compared to low-grade gliomas at 3.6% (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION Given the variable clinical characteristics of glioma tumors, these results underscore the urgent need for comprehensive epidemiological data on pediatric gliomas in Indonesia, particularly regarding prognosis-related factors. Such data could serve as a crucial step towards future research and clinical strategies aimed at improving outcomes for children with gliomas.
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