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Long-term results of conventional treatment of diencephalic pilocytic astrocytoma in infants

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Abstract

Background

To develop an effective therapeutic strategy for patients with diencephalic pilocytic astrocytomas (PA), we must understand the long-term effects and problems of conventional treatments.

Methods

We performed a retrospective follow-up of four infants with PA in the diencephalon.

Conclusion

The initial treatment consisted of partial tumor removal and/or external radiation. The mean progression-free duration after the initial treatment was 108.5 months. All patients received a second course of radiation to treat recurrent tumors. These conventional treatments produced relatively long survival. Three patients died 105, 202, and 379 months after the initial treatment. One patient is still alive at 249 months after the initial treatment. However, mental retardation was obvious in all four patients 6 to 12 years after the first irradiation and within 2 years of the second course of irradiation. Therefore, new therapeutic strategies must focus on delaying the timing of radiation until the patients are at least 5 years old and avoiding a second course of radiation to treat recurrence.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurosurgery, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Hiroshima University, 1-2-3, Kasumi, Minami-Ku, 734-8551, Hiroshima, Japan

    Kazunori Arita, Kaoru Kurisu, Kazuhiko Sugiyama & Yoko Itoh

  2. Department of Neurosurgery, Kure National Hospital, Kure, Japan

    Takuhiro Hotta

  3. Department of Neurosurgery, Matsuyama Red Cross Hospital, Matsuyama, Japan

    Takashi Sogabe

  4. Hibino Hospital, Hiroshima, Japan

    Tohru Uozumi

Authors
  1. Kazunori Arita
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  2. Kaoru Kurisu
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  3. Kazuhiko Sugiyama
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  4. Yoko Itoh
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  5. Takuhiro Hotta
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  6. Takashi Sogabe
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  7. Tohru Uozumi
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Kazunori Arita.

Additional information

A part of this study, comprising three cases and a shorter follow-up period, was previously published in Japanese with an English abstract: Arita K et al (1993) The long-term prognosis of diencephalic syndrome (in Japanese). Shoni No Noshinkei (Tokyo) 18:181–189

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Arita, K., Kurisu, K., Sugiyama, K. et al. Long-term results of conventional treatment of diencephalic pilocytic astrocytoma in infants. Childs Nerv Syst 19, 145–151 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00381-002-0705-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00381-002-0705-x

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