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Seizures as the presenting symptom of brain tumours in children

Khalid Ibrahim1, Richard Appleton

  • 1The Roald Dahl EEG Unit, Department of Neurology, Royal Liverpool Children's NHS Trust (Alder Hey), Liverpool, UK.

Seizure
|May 8, 2004
PubMed

Insights

Pediatric brain tumors can present with seizures, delaying diagnosis. Prompt treatment, including surgery and chemotherapy, can significantly reduce or eliminate seizures in children.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Neurology
  • Pediatric Oncology
  • Neuro-oncology

Background:

  • Seizures are a common presenting symptom in children with primary brain tumors.
  • Early diagnosis and treatment of pediatric brain tumors are crucial for patient outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of seizures as the initial clinical manifestation of primary brain tumors in children.
  • To analyze the diagnostic delay, treatment strategies, and seizure control following intervention for pediatric brain tumors presenting with seizures.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective analysis of 81 children with primary brain tumors treated at a tertiary pediatric oncology unit over 5 years.
  • Detailed review of clinical presentation, seizure characteristics, electroencephalogram (EEG) findings, tumor histology, treatment modalities, and outcomes.

Main Results:

  • Seizures were the presenting symptom in 10 (12%) of the children.
  • Partial seizures were most common, with focal/lateralizing EEG abnormalities in most cases.
  • Astrocytoma was the predominant histology, and diagnostic delay ranged from 2 weeks to 2 years (mean 6 months).
  • Post-treatment, 3 patients became seizure-free, and 5 experienced significant seizure reduction (50-80%).

Conclusions:

  • Seizures can be a significant indicator of primary brain tumors in children, often leading to diagnostic delays.
  • Multimodal treatment, including surgical resection and adjuvant therapies, can effectively manage seizures in this population.
  • Effective seizure control post-treatment suggests a favorable prognosis for some pediatric brain tumor patients presenting with epilepsy.

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