Intracranial Tumors In Children Research Articles

Pediatric pituitary adenomas.

Pediatric pituitary adenomas are a rare medical entity that makes up a small portion of intracranial tumors in children and adolescents. Although benign, the majority of these lesions are secreting functional tumors with the potential for physiological sequela that can profoundly affect a child's development. In this review, we discuss the medical and surgical management of these tumors with a focus on clinical presentation, diagnostic identification, surgical approach, and associated adjuvant therapies. We will also discuss our current treatment paradigm using endoscopic, open, and combined approaches to treat these tumors. The management of pituitary tumors requires a multidisciplinary team of surgeons, endocrinologists, and neuroanesthesiologists as well as neurocritical care specialists to deliver comprehensive care.

New therapeutic target for pediatric anaplastic ependymoma control: study of anti-tumor activity by a Kunitz-type molecule, Amblyomin-X

EPNs comprise a heterogeneous group of neuroepithelial tumors, accounting for about 10% of all intracranial tumors in children and up to 30% of brain tumors in those younger than 3 years. Actually, the pattern therapy for low-grade EPNs includes complete surgical resection followed by radiation therapy. Total surgical excision is often not possible due to tumor location. The aim of this study was to evaluate, for the first time, the anti-tumor activity of Amblyomin-X in 4 primary cultures derived from pediatric anaplastic posterior fossa EPN, Group A (anaplastic, WHO grade III) and one primary culture of a high grade neuroepithelial tumor with MN1 alteration, which was initially misdiagnosed as EPN: i) by in vitro assays: comparisons of temozolomide and cisplatin; ii) by intracranial xenograft model. Amblyomin-X was able to induce cell death in EPN cells in a more significant percentage compared to cisplatin. The cytotoxic effects of Amblyomin-X were not detected on hFSCs used as control, as opposed to cisplatin-treatment, which promoted a substantial effect in the hAFSCs viability. TEM analysis showed ultrastructural alterations related to the process of cell death: mitochondrial degeneration, autophagosomes and aggregate-like structures. MRI and histopathological analyzes demonstrated significant tumor mass regression. Our results suggest that Amblyomin-X has a selective effect on tumor cells by inducing apoptotic cell death and may be a therapeutic option for Group AEPNs.

Intracranial tumors in children: a 10-year review from a single tertiary health-care center.

Brain tumors are the second most common pediatric malignancy and the most common cause of cancer-related mortality and morbidities. Major advances in terms of surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy have led to better outcomes in developed countries. Delayed diagnosis, advanced disease at presentation, late referrals, nosocomial infections, delays to radiotherapy, and poor support services are the major reasons for poorer outcomes in developing countries. Little is known about the profile of brain tumors in Pakistan. This study aims to evaluate the epidemiology, management, and clinical outcomes of children with brain tumors in Pakistan in a single tertiary care center. All children (0-16years) with primary CNS tumors from 2004 to 2014 at Aga Khan University Hospital were reviewed retrospectively for clinical data, demographics, radiological findings, management, and outcome. One hundred seventy-five children were included in the study. Male to female ratio was 1.4:1. Most of the patients were in 5-10years age group (38.9%). Most common presenting complains were headache 115 (65.7%) and vomiting 100 (57.1%). Predominant site was infratentorial 93 (53%). Glial tumors were 105 (60%) followed by embryonal 40(22.9%), craniopharyngiomas 25 (14.3%), and germ cell 1 (0.6%). Astrocytomas (25.7%) were the most common glial tumors while medulloblastoma (15.4%) was the most common embryonal tumor. Majority of the patients underwent surgical resection (78.8%). Radiation was given to 47 (26.8%) patients. A half of the patients, 89 (50%), were lost to follow-up. Forty-two (24%) patients expired, 20 (11.4%) are alive with residual disease while 15 patients (8.5%) were cured with no evidence of recurrence and regular follow-ups. This is the only study from Pakistan showing demographics of the childhood brain tumors. Significant improvement needs to be made for timely diagnosis, early referrals, and collaborated team efforts with multidisciplinary tumor board to improve outcome.

The rs-fMRI study of effects of fornix and hippocampus-related brain function after the transcallosal interforniceal approach

BackgroundThe tumors in third ventricle are common intracranial tumors in children, characterized by various pathological types and difficult to be removed. The transcallosal interforniceal approach is often used for these tumors. The separation of bilateral fornix causes multiple surgical complications. In the past, complications could only be assessed by clinical feature and traditional imaging, lack of quantitative data to support. Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) can assess brain functional connectivity between local regions and different regions in quiet state. The changes of ReHo, ALFF, fALFF and brain function connections (DMN and Hippocampus as ROI) can be used to evaluate the effects caused by operation. ObjectiveTo evaluate the effects of brain function caused by operation. Methods9 children patients with tumors in third ventricle were randomly selected in Yuquan hospital, and scanned by rs-fMRI before and after operation. ReHo, ALFF, fALFF and function connections (DMN and Hippocampus as ROI) were chosen to analyze rs-fMRI data. ResultsThe results of ReHo, ALFF, fALFF and brain function connections (DMN and Hippocampus as ROI) showed that: (1) Compared with preoperative state, ReHo decreased in left superior frontal gyrus in 1 month after operation, while increased in right middle occipital gyrus, right middle temporal gyrus, and left posterior central gyrus. In 2 months after operation, ReHo decreased in left superior temporal gyrus and right precentral gyrus compared with that in 1 month after operation. (2) Compared with preoperative state, ALFF decreased in left middle frontal gyrus and increased in left superior temporal gyrus in 1 month after operation; ALFF decreased in right fusiform gyrus and right supramarginal gyrus, while increased in left parahippocampal gyrus and left caudate nucleus in 2 months after operation. When compared with these in 1 month after operation, ALFF decreased in right fusiform gyrus and left precentral gyrus in 2 months after operation. (3) Compared with preoperative state, fALFF decreased in left superior frontal gyrus in 1 month after operation, and decreased in left middle frontal gyrus in 2 months after surgery. (4) The connections of DMN showed that enhanced connections of bilateral middle frontal gyrus and other regions in 1 month after operation, which restored to preoperative state in 3 months after operation. (5) There were changes of connections between bilateral hippocampus and related brain regions without any interruption occurred. The effects of approach can disappear in 3 months after operation. ConclusionsThe short-term effects of ReHo, ALFF and fALFF in brain regions of children patients can recover to preoperative state with time. The operation did not interrupt the connections between DMN and hippocampus related brain areas. The effects of surgery can restore to the preoperative state in 3 months after operation.

Subdural hydroma; A postoperative complication of desmoplastic infantile ganglioglioma and astrocytoma: A report of two cases and literature review

Abstract Introduction Desmoplastic infantile ganglioglioma (DIG) and desmoplastic infantile astrocytoma (DIA) are rare benign childhood intracranial tumors that are classified under neural and mixed glioneuronal tumors. Although many authors have written on surgical treatment of these disease conditions and indicated satisfactory outcomes, no author have written on the postoperative formation of a subdural hydroma after surgery. Case presentation We present two cases of DIG and DIA infants in whom we achieved total or subtotal tumor resection and observed postoperative hydroma as complications. Their main symptoms were vomiting, seizures and head enlargement. In both cases magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed huge solid-cystic mass located in left frontal, temporal and parietal lobes. Histopathological staining confirmed the diagnosis of DIG and DIA in both cases. A second surgery may be required in patients with this kind of postoperative complication if clinical and radiological imaging evaluation reveal deteriorating of the patient's condition otherwise conservative treatment usually gives a total resolution of this complication. Conclusion The pathophysiology of this occurrence after surgery is as the result of a potential space created after excision of tumor and subsequent influx of CSF into the potential space between the subdural.

Benefits of image-guided stereotactic hypofractionated radiation therapy as adjuvant treatment of craniopharyngiomas. A review.

Craniopharyngiomas account for 5.6-13% of intracranial tumors in children. Despite being histologically benign, these tumors remain a major neurosurgical challenge because of the typical tight adherence to adjacent critical structures. The optimal therapeutic approach for this disease is controversial. Large cystic size and adherence to neurovascular, neuroendocrine, and optic structures without a clear line of cleavage make complete resection problematic and often hazardous. For these reasons, partial resection and adjuvant treatment play an important role. Post-operative radiation therapy (RT) following either complete or incomplete tumor removal is associated with significantly decreased recurrence rates. The aim of this review is to analyze the potential advantage of the most modern technical advancements for RT of craniopharyngiomas. This narrative review on the topic of craniopharyngiomas was based on published data available on PUBMED/Medline. All data concerning adjuvant or upfront radiation therapy treatment of craniopharyngioma were reviewed and summarized. A more detailed analysis of fractionated frameless steretactic radiosurgery of these tumors is provided as well. We reviewed the possible improvement provided by intensity modulated beams, arc therapy, image guidance, proton radiation, and fractionated stereotactic radiosurgery. Many published findings on outcome and toxicity after RT involve the use of relatively outdated RT techniques. Technologic improvements in imaging, radiation planning, and delivery have improved the distribution of radiation doses to desired target volumes and reduced the dose to nearby critical normal tissues. Currently available techniques, providing image guidance and improved radiation doses distribution profile, have shown to maintain the efficacy of conventional techniques while significantly reducing the toxicity. Image-guided radiosurgery holds the dose distributions and precision of frame-based techniques with the remarkable advantage of multiple-session treatments that are better tolerated by sensitive peritumoral structures, such as the optic pathway and hypothalamus. This, together with the comfort of a frameless technique, candidates frameless image-guided radiosurgery to be the first option for the adjuvant post-operative treatment of craniopharyngiomas in children and young adults when total resection cannot be achieved, in particular those with hypothalamic involvement, and when the residual tumor is mostly solid.

Histo-pathological pattern of intracranial tumours in the National Hospital, Abuja.

Intracranial tumours demonstrate characteristic diagnostic histopathological features. Our aims were to look at the histo-pathological pattern of intracranial tumours in our environment including their age and sex distribution. The histology request forms and slides of all intracranial specimens submitted to the histo-pathology department of National Hospital, Abuja, over an 11 year period (2005 and 2015) were retrospectively reviewed. Intracranial specimens and intracranial tumours accounted for 0.6% and 0.5% respectively of all samples submitted. Meningiomas accounted for the most frequent diagnosis for all intracranial specimens and intracranial tumours at 35% and 41% respectively followed by pituitary adenoma at 19% and 22%, and astrocytoma at 13% and 20%. The male female ratio for all diagnoses was 1:1. The mean age at diagnosis was 35 ± 17.1 years. The frequency of intracranial tumours in children was 11.8% with a mean age of 8.3 ± 4.4 years and an equal sex distribution. In children, glioma and embryonal tumours were the most frequent diagnosis at 25%. The histo-pathological pattern of intracranial tumours in our environment showed that meningioma is the most common intracranial tumour in adults, while glioma and embryonal tumours are the most common intracranial tumours in children.

EP-1861: Predicted reduction in fatal second cancers by proton therapy of childhood intracranial tumors

EP-1861: Predicted reduction in fatal second cancers by proton therapy of childhood intracranial tumors

Pediatric Pituitary Adenoma: Case Series, Review of the Literature, and a Skull Base Treatment Paradigm.

Background Pediatric pituitary adenoma is a rare skull base neoplasm, accounting for 3% of all intracranial neoplasms in children and 5% of pituitary adenomas. Compared with pituitary tumors in adults, secreting tumors predominate and longer disease trajectories are expected due to the patient age resulting in a natural history and treatment paradigm that is complex and controversial. Objectives The aims of this study were to describe a large, single-institution series of pediatric pituitary adenomas with extensive long-term follow-up and to conduct a systematic review examining outcomes after pituitary adenoma surgery in the pediatric population. Methods The study cohort was compiled by searching institutional pathology and operative reports using diagnosis and site codes for pituitary and sellar pathology, from 1956 to 2016. Systematic review of the English language literature since 1970 was conducted using PubMed, MEDLINE, Embase, and Google Scholar. Results Thirty-nine surgically managed pediatric pituitary adenomas were identified, including 15 prolactinomas, 14 corticotrophs, 7 somatotrophs, and 4 non-secreting adenomas. All patients underwent transsphenoidal resection (TSR) as the initial surgical treatment. Surgical cure was achieved in 18 (46%); 21 experienced recurrent/persistent disease, with secondary treatments including repeat surgery in 10, radiation in 14, adjuvant pharmacotherapy in 11, and bilateral adrenalectomy in 3. At the last follow-up (median 87 months, range 3-581), nine remained with recurrent/persistent disease (23%). Thirty-seven publications reporting surgical series of pediatric pituitary adenomas were included, containing 1,284 patients. Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)-secreting tumors were most prevalent (43%), followed by prolactin (PRL)-secreting (37%), growth hormone (GH)-secreting (12%), and nonsecreting (7%). Surgical cure was reported in 65%. Complications included pituitary insufficiency (23%), permanent visual dysfunction (6%), chronic diabetes insipidus (DI) (3%), and postoperative cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak (4%). Mean follow-up was 63 months (range 0-240), with recurrent/persistent disease reported in 18% at the time of last follow-up. Conclusion Pediatric pituitary adenomas are diverse and challenging tumors with complexities far beyond those encountered in the management of routine adult pituitary disease, including nuanced decision-making, a technically demanding operative environment, high propensity for recurrence, and the potentially serious consequences of hypopituitarism with respect to fertility and growth potential in a pediatric population. Optimal treatment requires a high degree of individualization, and patients are most likely to benefit from consolidated, multidisciplinary care in highly experienced centers.

A rare case of supratentorial desmoplastic noninfantile ganglioglioma with heterogeneous differentiation and calcification

Desmoplastic infantile gangliogliomas (DIGs) are rare supratentorial, neuroepithelial low-grade brain tumors that arise in the cerebral hemispheres and represent 1.25% of all intracranial tumors in children. They present commonly in the infantile age group within the first 2 years of life and are exceedingly rare in the noninfantile population. Less than sixty cases of this tumor type have been reported in literature. We present here a 9-year-old female child with a huge right frontoparietal DIG with midline shift and mass effect on ventricles. This rare case highlights the remarkable heterogeneous nature of this pediatric tumor and the importance of appropriate immunohistochemical examination for accurate pathologic diagnosis.

Surgery of Intracranial Gliomas in Children.

Gliomas are the most common type of brain cancer in the pediatric patients, constituting about 50% of all childhood intracranial tumors. This is a highly heterogeneous group, varying from the benign WHO histopathological grades I and II to malignant WHO grades III and IV. The histology and location are significant prognostic factors, which influence the decision for surgical intervention, as well as the extent of possible tumor removal. In low-grade gliomas, surgery remains the initial option and should be directed at gross total resection in favorable locations, such as the cerebral hemispheres and the cerebellum. Management of high-grade gliomas (HGG), which are less common in children compared to adults, continue to pose a significant challenge. In non-brainstem HGG, the goal is safe maximal tumor removal, while it generally does not play any role in diffuse intrinsic pontine gliomas. Treatment must, thus, be individualized in the majority of cases of HGG. Surgery for gliomas in children continues to be aided by technological advancements facilitating tumor resection and improving patient safety and outcomes.

Management of pituitary endocrine function in craniopharyngioma

Craniopharyngioma is a kind of benign tumor of the relict squamous epithelial cells originated from the pituitary gland of cranial cheek pouch in the process of embryonic development. With an overall incidence of 0.13 cases per 100 000 person-years, they may represent up to 5%-10% of intracranial tumors in children. There is always debate regarding the appropriate treatment for craniopharyngiomas which often present symptomatically given their proximity to critical brain structures, and pose significant surgical challenges. And the complications caused by the treatment such as diabetes insipidus, hypothalamic obesity, and hypopituitarism, that throw out a challenge to the postoperative management and the quality of the patients. Craniopharyngioma should be recognized as a chronic disease requiring constant monitoring along with the clinical and multidisciplinary treatment in order to provide optimal care of surviving patients. (Chin J Endocrinol Metab, 2017, 33: 536-540) Key words: Craniopharyngioma; Treatment; Diabetes insipidus; Hypopituitarism; Hypothalamic obesity

Radiation induces progenitor cell death, microglia activation, and blood-brain barrier damage in the juvenile rat cerebellum

Posterior fossa tumors are the most common childhood intracranial tumors, and radiotherapy is one of the most effective treatments. However, irradiation induces long-term adverse effects that can have significant negative impacts on the patient’s quality of life. The purpose of this study was to characterize irradiation-induced cellular and molecular changes in the cerebellum. We found that irradiation-induced cell death occurred mainly in the external germinal layer (EGL) of the juvenile rat cerebellum. The number of proliferating cells in the EGL decreased, and 82.9% of them died within 24 h after irradiation. Furthermore, irradiation induced oxidative stress, microglia accumulation, and inflammation in the cerebellum. Interestingly, blood-brain barrier damage and blood flow reduction was considerably more pronounced in the cerebellum compared to other brain regions. The cerebellar volume decreased by 39% and the migration of proliferating cells to the internal granule layer decreased by 87.5% at 16 weeks after irradiation. In the light of recent studies demonstrating that the cerebellum is important not only for motor functions, but also for cognition, and since treatment of posterior fossa tumors in children typically results in debilitating cognitive deficits, this differential susceptibility of the cerebellum to irradiation should be taken into consideration for future protective strategies.

Where are the opportunities for an earlier diagnosis of primary intracranial tumours in children and young adults?

Childhood brain tumours have some of the longest time to diagnosis. A timely diagnosis may have a role in reducing anxiety in waiting for a diagnosis and subsequent morbidity and mortality. We investigated where the opportunities for an earlier diagnosis were, and for which anatomical locations this strategy will most likely to be effective. A record-linkage cohort study of patients diagnosed aged 0-24 years with a primary intracranial tumour between 1989 and 2006 in England, using records from the National Cancer Registry linked to hospital admission records from Hospital Episode Statistics (HES, 1997-2006) and primary care consultation records from Clinical Practice Research Datalink (CPRD, 1989-2006). Relevant neurological presentations were extracted from HES and CPRD. Temporal changes in presentation rates were estimated in generalised additive models. Frequency of presentation began to increase six months before diagnosis in primary care and three months before diagnosis in hospital. Supratentorial and midline tumours had the longest presentation history before diagnosis. Peri-ventricular tumours presented frequently in hospital (rate ratio=1.29 vs supratentorial tumours; 95% CI=1.12-1.48) or as an emergency (1.24; 1.01-1.51), and in primary care (1.12; 0.62-1.85). Opportunities for an earlier diagnosis are greater in supratentorial, midline or cranial nerve tumours, which have a longer presentation history than peri-ventricular, cerebellar or brainstem tumours. Common features before diagnosis include headache, convulsions, and growth or endocrine disorders. Focal neurological deficits are uncommon and emerge late in the pre-diagnosis period.

Supratentorial Brain Tumors in Children

Brain tumors in children are the second most common type of pediatric tumors after leukemia and the most common occurring solid tumor. Brain tumors diagnosed during the first year of life have different features than those presenting later in childhood and are usually supratentorial. Magnetic resonance imaging is the modality of choice for the diagnosis and characterization of these tumors. Herewith, we provide a review of the imaging characteristics on conventional and advanced neuroimaging techniques of the most common supratentorial intracranial tumors in children.

Abstract 2410: Recurrent pediatric ependymomas exhibit increased tumorigenicity in mouse brains of patient-derived xenograft models

Abstract Ependymoma is the third most common malignant pediatric brain tumor, accounting for ∼10% all intracranial tumors in children. Current standard treatment for ependymoma patients include maximally safe surgical resection followed by radiation therapy. The degree of gross total resection remains the best prognostic factor, although more molecular characterization has been completed in recent years demonstrating several subgroups of ependymoma that can more accurately predict clinical outcome. 5-year event free survival is 40-85% and varies depending on the extent of surgical resection, tumor grade, and other prognostic factors. Prognosis is even more dismal in those patients with recurrent ependymomas which occurs in nearly half of the patients, and there are no known curative options to offer these patients other than palliative re-irradiation and additional surgeries. Chemotherapies and molecular targeted therapies have not been proven to increase survival outcomes. Therefore, it is imperative to learn more about the biology of recurrent diseases and identify the cellular driver of ependymoma recurrence, as well as understanding the mechanisms of therapy resistance. We hypothesize that ependymoma recurrence is driven by a subpopulation of therapy-resistant tumors cells with enhanced tumorigenicity in SCID mice. Between the years of 2005 to present, we have collected a total of 77 pediatric ependymoma patient tumor samples from across the country. Of those, we identified 9 patients with recurrent ependymomas in which we have collected tumor samples from each recurrence. The median age of these patients is 6 years old (ranges from 2 - 10 years) and has a 2:1 male to female ratio. The median time to first recurrence is 35 months (ranges from 9 - 61 months). 5 patients had one recurrence, 2 patients had two recurrences, 1 patient had 3 recurrences, and 1 patient had more than 5 recurrences and we have tumor tissues from this particular patient over the span of 6-year period. To study the tumorigenicity of these brain tumors at the different clinical stages, whether at diagnosis, first recurrence, second recurrence, or beyond, we directly implanted tumor cells (10,000 cells/mouse) from all 9 patients into the matched locations in the brains of SCID mice (e.g., human cerebral tumors to mouse cerebrum, human cerebellar tumors to mouse cerebellum). In 3 of the 9 models, tumor formation was confirmed in mouse brains from the latest recurrent patient tumor, while samples from the same patient from earlier stages either did not form tumors in mouse brains or are currently pending. Tumor formation in the remaining models are still pending. In conclusion, our preliminary findings demonstrate progressive enhancement of tumorigenicity during ependymoma recurrence. This has become a very unique and extremely valuable platform to study brain tumor recurrence. Citation Format: Sibo Zhao, Huiyuan Zhang, Laszlo Perlaky, Adekunle Adesina, Ching Lau, Donald W. Parsons, Murali Chintagumpala, Xiao-Nan Li. Recurrent pediatric ependymomas exhibit increased tumorigenicity in mouse brains of patient-derived xenograft models. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 107th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2016 Apr 16-20; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(14 Suppl):Abstract nr 2410.

Diffusion tensor imaging in evaluation of posterior fossa tumors in children on a 3T MRI scanner.

Context:Primary intracranial tumors in children are commonly located in the posterior fossa. Conventional MRI offers limited information regarding the histopathological type of tumor which is essential for better patient management.Aims:The purpose of the study was to evaluate the usefulness of advanced MR imaging techniques like diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) in distinguishing the various histopathological types of posterior fossa tumors in children.Settings and Design:DTI was performed on a 3T MRI scanner in 34 untreated children found to have posterior fossa lesions.Materials and Methods:Using third party software, various DTI parameters [apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC), fractional anisotropy (FA), radial diffusivity, planar index, spherical index, and linear index] were calculated for the lesion.Statistical Analysis Used:Data were subjected to statistical analysis [analysis of variance (ANOVA)] using SPSS 15.0 software.Results:We observed significant correlation (P < 0.01) between ADC mean and maximum, followed by radial diffusivity (RD) with the histopathological types of the lesions. Rest of the DTI parameters did not show any significant correlation in our study.Conclusions:The results of our study support the hypothesis that most cellular tumors and those with greater nuclear area like medulloblastoma would have the lowest ADC values, as compared to less cellular tumors like pilocytic astrocytoma.

Functional and neuropsychological late outcomes in posterior fossa tumors in children.

Tumors of the posterior fossa (PF) account for up to 60 % of all childhood intracranial tumors. Over the last decades, the mortality rate of children with posterior fossa tumors has gradually decreased. While survival has been the primary objective in most reports, quality of survival increasingly appears to be an important indicator of a successful outcome. Children with a PF tumor can sustain damage to the cerebellum and other brain structures from the tumor itself, concomitant hydrocephalus, the consequences of treatment (surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy), or a combination of these factors. Together, these contribute to long-term sequelae in physical functioning, neuropsychological late outcomes (including academic outcome, working memory, perception and estimation of time, and selective attention, long-term neuromotor speech deficits, and executive functioning). Long-term quality of life can also be affected by endocrinological complication or the occurrence of secondary tumors. A significant proportion of survivors of PF tumors require long-term special education services and have reduced rates of high school graduation and employment. Interventions to improve neuropsychological functioning in childhood PF tumor survivors include (1) pharmacological interventions (such as methylphenidate, modafinil, or donepezil), (2) cognitive remediation, and (3) home-based computerized cognitive training. In order to achieve the best possible outcome for survivors, and ultimately minimize long-term complications, new interventions must be developed to prevent and ameliorate the neuro-toxic effects experienced by these children.

Early postoperative complications of intracranial tumors in children.

The aim of this study was to describe the complications experienced by patients after central nervous system tumor resection during pediatric intensive care Unit (PICU) admission. Our attempt was to assess the association between epidemiological, clinical data and tumor characteristics prior to surgery and presence of postoperative complications. We design an observational, descriptive and retrospective study by review of medical records. Patients aged 0-18 years, admitted to the PICU of our hospital, after surgery for tumor resection in the central nervous system. We collected a total of 145 postoperative. At PICU, 48.3% of the patients (70/145) had some type of postoperative complication. It they were, in order of frequency: a new neurological deficit at discharge (29%, 42/145), pneumocephalus (21%, 30/145), electrolyte disturbances (17.9%, 26), infection (16.6%, 24), anemia (8.3%, 12), seizures (7.6%, 11), endocrine disorders (7.6%, 11), intracranial hypertension (5.5%, 8) and stroke (7, 4.8%). One patient died. There was no difference in overall complication and the tumor site. However, supratentorial tumors had less need for MV (73% vs. 92%, P=0.002, OR 2.7 [1.2-6.1]), shorter duration for MV (11 hours vs. 48 hours, P=0.02), lower frequency of neurological deficit (22% vs. 37%, P=0.004, OR 1.4 [1-2.1]) and cerebrospinal fluid fistula (1% vs. 13%, P=0.004, OR 2.1 [1.6- 2.8]). They were more frequent seizures (13% vs. 2%, P=0.024, OR 1.8 [1.4-2.3]), central diabetes insipidus (17% vs. 0%, P<0.001, OR 4.3 [1.6-11.7]) and endocrine disruption (14% vs. 0%, P=0.001, OR 2 [1.7-2.4]). The intracranial tumors surgery requires monitoring in intensive care because the risk of postoperative complications is high. The tumor location is related to the occurrence of some of these complications.

Pattern of symptoms and signs of primary intracranial tumours in children and young adults: a record linkage study

ObjectiveTo describe the age pattern and temporal evolution of symptoms and signs of intracranial tumours in children and young adults before diagnosis.Design and settingA record linkage study using population-based data...