Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 3, 2026
Tumor Treating Field Therapy in Combination with Bevacizumab for the Treatment of Recurrent Glioblastoma
Published on: October 27, 2014
Management of child optic pathway gliomas: new therapeutical option
J C Suárez1, J C Viano, S Zunino
1Department of Neurosurgery, Allende Clinic and Municipal Child Hospital, Cordoba, Argentina. totoralar@yahoo.com
Insights
This study reviews 25 years of treating pediatric optic pathway gliomas. Chemotherapy and brachytherapy show promise, especially for children under five, with marsupialization aiding in managing complications.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Oncology
- Neuro-oncology
- Ophthalmology
Background:
- Optic pathway gliomas (OPGs) are challenging pediatric brain tumors.
- Early diagnosis and multidisciplinary management are crucial for improving outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To present a comprehensive 25-year experience in treating pediatric optic pathway gliomas.
- To evaluate the effectiveness of various treatment modalities and patient outcomes.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 17 children under 10 years with OPGs.
- Assessment included clinical, ophthalmologic, endocrine, neurologic, neuropathologic, and imaging data.
- Treatment modalities comprised surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and brachytherapy.
Main Results:
- Most patients were female (10/17), with a mean age of 3 years and 8 months.
- Ophthalmologic and visual alterations were the most frequent presenting symptoms.
- Pilocytic astrocytomas were the most common histology; 5 patients died, with causes including secondary tumors and infections.
Conclusions:
- Chemotherapy and brachytherapy are valuable treatment options, particularly for children under 5.
- Marsupialization techniques can effectively manage increased intracranial pressure and hypothalamic compression post-treatment.
Objective:
To present our experience in the treatment of child optic pathway gliomas in the last 25 years.
Material And Methods:
Seventeen children under 10 years of age have been analyzed and assessed from clinic, ophthalmologic, endocrinologic, neurological, neuropathologic, and imaginologic points of view.
Results:
Predominance of female patients, 10 girls and 7 boys between 6 and 122 months old; mean age was 3 years and 8 months. The most frequent symptoms have been ophthalmologic and visual alterations in all 17 patients, endocrine alterations in 10, and neurological signs in 6. One of the patients presented neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1), another patient had Down syndrome. Diagnosed using computed tomography or/and magnetic resonance imaging, histological studies showed pilocytic astrocytomas in 13 cases and a fibrillary astrocytoma grade II in 1 case. There were three patients without histological diagnosis; one of them had NF1. The treatment consisted of surgery, external beam radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and brachytherapy with iodine 125, separately or combined. Five patients died; the causes were secondary tumors in two children, tumor recurrence in one, sepsis secondary to respiratory and urinary tract infections in the child with Down syndrome, and finally, hydrocephaly due to hyperproteinorachia of tumor origin in one. Average survival was 89 months.
Conclusion:
Chemotherapy and brachytherapy are therapeutic methods to be considered, especially in children under 5. Marsupialization of the residual cyst into the ventricular system postradio or oncolytic treatment through endoscopic or stereotactic techniques is useful in the treatment of endocranial hypertension and/or hypothalamic compression in these patients.
Related Concept Videos
01:27Open Angle Glaucoma: Treatment
Drugs such as carbonic anhydrase inhibitors, α2- and...
01:28Angle Closure Glaucoma: Treatment