Cerebral tumors in children presenting with epilepsy
B A Williams1, K J Abbott, J I Manson
1Department of Neurology, Adelaide Children's Hospital, Australia.
Journal of Child Neurology
|July 1, 1992
Summary
Pediatric brain tumors can cause seizures, especially partial ones in young children. Early diagnosis with MRI and surgical intervention significantly improve seizure control.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Pediatric Oncology
Background:
- Seizures are a common presenting symptom in pediatric patients with cerebral tumors.
- Cerebral tumors account for a small percentage of childhood seizures.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the clinical characteristics and diagnostic modalities of cerebral tumors presenting as seizures in children.
- To evaluate the efficacy of surgical intervention in managing tumor-related seizures.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of 20 children with histologically confirmed cerebral tumors and seizures.
- Analysis of clinical presentation, diagnostic imaging (ultrasound, CT, MRI), and treatment outcomes.
Main Results:
- Cerebral tumors represented 2.9% of childhood seizures; 40% of patients were under 15 months and presented with partial seizures.
- Initial misdiagnosis occurred in 25% of infants; 75% had normal examinations, and 50% exhibited behavioral disturbances.
- MRI confirmed tumors in all cases, while CT was non-diagnostic in 40%. Temporal and frontal lobes were most frequently involved.
- Surgical intervention led to significant seizure control improvement in 75% of patients.
Conclusions:
- Suspicion of cerebral tumors should be high in children with partial or refractory seizures, especially with normal examinations or behavioral deterioration.
- Magnetic resonance imaging is the most effective diagnostic tool for detecting pediatric brain tumors.
- Early surgical consideration is beneficial for controlling tumor-related seizures.
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