Abstract
BackgroundMRI is the imaging modality of choice for the assessment of intracranial masses in children. Imaging is vital in planning further management.ObjectivesThe purpose of this study was to describe the common intracranial masses and their imaging characteristics in the paediatric population referred to Inkosi Albert Luthuli Central Hospital for MRI of the brain.MethodWe retrospectively reviewed the medical records of paediatric patients (aged from birth to 18 years) who underwent MRI investigations for intracranial masses between January 2010 and December 2016.ResultsA total of 931 MRI brain scans were performed. One hundred and seven scans met the inclusion criteria, of which 92 were primary brain tumours and 15 were inflammatory masses. The majority were females (56%). The mean age was 12 ± 4.52 (range of 3–18 years). The most common presenting symptom was seizures (70/107, 65.4%). We categorised the masses according to supra- and infratentorial compartments. The most common site for masses was the supratentorial compartment (n = 56, 52%). The most common masses in the supratentorial compartment were craniopharyngiomas (14/45, 31.1%), whilst in the infratentorial compartment, the most common masses were medulloblastomas (24/47, 51.1%).ConclusionIn our series, the supratentorial compartment was the commonest site for intracranial masses. The most common tumour in the infratentorial compartment was medulloblastoma. This information is vital in formulating differential diagnoses of intracranial masses.
Highlights
In low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) such as South Africa, brain tumours are the second most common tumours in the paediatric population, after leukaemia.[1,2,3] They are responsible for the most common cancer-related deaths in paediatric patients.[2,3] In high-income countries, brain tumour incidence ranges from 1.15 to 5.14 cases per 100 000 children, with the highest rates reported in the United States.[4]
Of the 70 patients who presented with seizures, 30 (43%) had masses located in the supratentorial compartment and
The associated features on MRI are displayed in According to numerous case series studies, medulloblastoma is the commonest infratentorial tumour, which is a similar finding in this study.[5,6]
Summary
In low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) such as South Africa, brain tumours are the second most common tumours in the paediatric population, after leukaemia.[1,2,3] They are responsible for the most common cancer-related deaths in paediatric patients.[2,3] In high-income countries, brain tumour incidence ranges from 1.15 to 5.14 cases per 100 000 children, with the highest rates reported in the United States.[4] The recent South African tumour registry dated 1997–2007 reported the annual incidence of tumours in children aged 0–14 years to be between 33.4 and 47.2 per million from 2003 to 2007.1 Brain tumours represented 13.45% of all diagnosed childhood tumours.[1] Overall, the most common paediatric tumour in the supratentorial compartment is astrocytoma (68%), followed by craniopharyngioma (50%).
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