LINC-11. NEUROPATHOLOGY REVIEW OF LATIN AMERICAN CHILDHOOD AND ADOLESCENT BRAIN TUMOR PATIENTS: A MULTI-NATIONAL, MULTI-DISCIPLINARY PEDIATRIC NEURO-ONCOLOGY TELECONFERENCE EXPERIENCE

Abstract

BACKGROUNDPediatric brain tumor classification has undergone significant evolution over the last decade requiring a high-level of expertise and diagnostic techniques. Such advances have created challenges for pathologists particularly in low-to-middle income countries (LMIC). We conduct weekly pediatric neuro-oncology teleconferences linking global pediatric neuro-oncologists from high-income countries (HIC) to review patients with pediatric subspecialists from Latin America.METHODSThree to five patients are discussed weekly and second neuropathology review is offered when a high-level of suspicion emerges of a questionable diagnosis based on clinical and radiographical information. Nationwide Children’s Hospital (NCH) provides second neuropathology review at no cost to institutions in Latin America that fulfill these criteria.RESULTSFrom July 2015 to December 2019 NCH reviewed 54 pathology samples from eleven Latin American countries. Of these, 33 (61.1%) cases resulted in diagnostic changes, of which 28 (51.8%) were significant, impacting treatment plans and overall patient outcomes. The remaining 21 (38.9%) confirmed institutional diagnosis; however, in eight of these 21 cases additional molecular information and/or further tumor subtyping unavailable in their home country at the time (eg: BRAF, RELA-fusion, medulloblastoma subtyping) was provided.CONCLUSIONSThis study highlights the importance of centralized pathology review by institutions with the proper equipment, infrastructure and expertise in pediatric neuropathology. Furthermore, this documents the beneficial impact of teleconferencing for subspecialists in LMIC who must treat a wide variety of pediatric cancers with few resources and support. Additionally, our findings underscore the need for pediatric subspecialty training in LMIC.