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Congenital brain tumors in a series of 56 patients

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Abstract

Introduction

Central nervous system tumors diagnosed before the end of the first year of life differ from those found in older children and in adults. The differences include mode of clinical presentation, anatomical distribution, histopathological diagnoses, response to therapy, and outcome.

Materials and methods

The material consists of 56 children (23 girls and 33 boys), aged at recognition 32Hbd–12 months. We reviewed charts and MR exams according to age of the onset of symptoms, location of tumors, treatment, histopathology, and outcomes. Data of the outcome were analyzed using Kaplan–Meier plots and chi-square test.

Results

Eleven cases were recognized before 6 weeks of life, 24 before the age of 6 months, and 21 were diagnosed up to the end of 1 year of age. Thirty-eight tumors were located in the supratentorial compartment; 18 were infratentorial. Median age of tumors’ recognition was 5.2 months; 4.3 months for supratentorial and 7.2 months for infratentorial tumors. We found 18 glial cell tumors (high and low grade), 15 embryonal tumors, and 12 choroid plexus tumors.

Conclusions

The outcome of congenital CNS tumors depends on the size, location, time of diagnosis, histological type of the tumor, and therapeutic option. Neurosurgical procedures are necessary in most cases. Despite the notable advances in therapy, the outcome remains poor.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Diagnostic Imaging, MR Unit, The Children’s Memorial Health Institute, Warsaw, Poland

    Elżbieta Jurkiewicz, Katarzyna Nowak & Katarzyna Malczyk

  2. Department of Oncology, The Children’s Memorial Health Institute, Warsaw, Poland

    Agnieszka Brożyna & Danuta Perek

  3. Department of Pathology, The Children’s Memorial Health Institute, Warsaw, Poland

    Wiesława Grajkowska

  4. Department of Diagnostic Imaging, Institute of Mother and Child, Warsaw, Poland

    Monika Bekiesińska-Figatowska

  5. Department of Neurosurgery, The Children’s Memorial Health Institute, Warsaw, Poland

    Paweł Daszkiewicz

  6. Department of Radiology, Postgraduate Medical Center, Warsaw, Poland

    Jerzy Walecki

  7. Department of Paediatric Rehabilitation, The Children’s Memorial Health Institute, Warsaw, Poland

    Małgorzata Syczewska

Authors
  1. Elżbieta Jurkiewicz
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  2. Agnieszka Brożyna
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  3. Wiesława Grajkowska
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  4. Monika Bekiesińska-Figatowska
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  5. Paweł Daszkiewicz
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  6. Katarzyna Nowak
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  7. Katarzyna Malczyk
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  8. Jerzy Walecki
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  9. Danuta Perek
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  10. Małgorzata Syczewska
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Correspondence to Elżbieta Jurkiewicz.

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Jurkiewicz, E., Brożyna, A., Grajkowska, W. et al. Congenital brain tumors in a series of 56 patients. Childs Nerv Syst 28, 1193–1201 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00381-012-1798-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00381-012-1798-5

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