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Association between the growth rate of subependymal giant cell astrocytoma and age in patients with tuberous sclerosis complex

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Abstract

Purpose

The most common neurological complications associated with tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) include intractable seizures that begin in infancy and subependymal giant cell astrocytoma (SEGA) complicated by hydrocephalus with increasing age. Information on SEGA growth of TSC patients is limited. This study aimed to examine the TSC-SEGA growth rates by periodic neuroimaging.

Methods

This study evaluated the TSC-SEGA growth rates by serial neuroimaging. Fifty-eight patients with TSC underwent systematic evaluation, including a review of medical history and serial brain neuroimaging.

Results

While magnetic resonance imaging was more sensitive in detecting cortical tubers than computed tomography (73.1 vs. 0 %, p < 0.001), its efficacy in identifying intracranial lesions was comparable to that of computed tomography (96.2 vs. 100 %, p = 0.658). Significant tumor growth was observed in children (p = 0.012) and adults (p = 0.028) during follow-up periods, respectively (median for children 23.5 months, interquartile range 18–40 months and median for adults 23 months, interquartile range 12–34 months). Further, the SEGA growth rate in children was significantly higher than that in adults (75.6 vs. 16.5 %, p = 0.03).

Conclusions

The results of the study show that SEGA has a significantly higher growth rate in children using serial follow-up brain imaging, suggesting the importance of performing follow-up neuroimaging at yearly intervals in childhood to identify and prevent potential comorbidities.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by Chung Shan Medical University Hospital (CRDA001MIC03). Authors gratefully acknowledge the support of the Taiwan Tuberous Sclerosis Complex Association, the patients, and caregivers who participated in this survey.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Medicine, Chung Shan Medical University, No. 110, Section 1, Jianguo North Road, Taichung, 402, Taiwan

    Jeng-Dau Tsai, Teng-Fu Tsao, Yu-Ping Hsiao, Min-Ling Tsai & Ji-Nan Sheu

  2. Department of Pediatrics, Chung Shan Medical University Hospital, No. 110, Section 1, Jianguo North Road, Taichung, 402, Taiwan

    Jeng-Dau Tsai & Ji-Nan Sheu

  3. Children’s Hospital, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan

    Chang-Ching Wei

  4. School of Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan

    Chang-Ching Wei

  5. Department of Medical Imaging, Chung Shan Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan

    Teng-Fu Tsao

  6. Department of Dermatology, Chung Shan Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan

    Yu-Ping Hsiao

  7. Department of Health and Nutrition Biotechnology, Asia University, Taichung, Taiwan

    Henry J. Tsai

  8. Department of Life Sciences, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan

    Sheng-Hui Yang

  9. Department of Pharmacy, Chung Shan Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan

    Min-Ling Tsai

Authors
  1. Jeng-Dau Tsai
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  2. Chang-Ching Wei
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  4. Yu-Ping Hsiao
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Correspondence to Ji-Nan Sheu.

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Tsai, JD., Wei, CC., Tsao, TF. et al. Association between the growth rate of subependymal giant cell astrocytoma and age in patients with tuberous sclerosis complex. Childs Nerv Syst 32, 89–95 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00381-015-2947-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00381-015-2947-4

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