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Intracranial tumours in the first 18 months of life
R Kumar1, I H Tekkök, R A Jones
1Neurosurgical Unit, Royal Manchester Children's Hospital, Pendlebury, Greater Manchester, UK.
Insights
This study analyzed 93 infant brain tumors, finding a high incidence of malignant intracranial tumors. Medulloblastoma, ependymoma, and juvenile astrocytoma were most common in children under 18 months.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Oncology
- Neuro-oncology
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Population-based studies on pediatric intracranial tumors are scarce.
- Understanding the epidemiology of brain tumors in infants is crucial for early diagnosis and treatment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the incidence and characteristics of brain tumors in children up to 18 months of age.
- To identify the most common types and locations of intracranial tumors in this age group.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 93 infant brain tumors from the Manchester Children's Tumour Registry (1953-1987).
- Data included tumor type, location, malignancy, and family history.
Main Results:
- Incidence of infant brain tumors was 1 per 25,000 live births.
- 85% of tumors were malignant, with medulloblastoma, ependymoma, and juvenile astrocytoma being most frequent.
- Supratentorial tumors were common in infants under 6 months; 18% were in the axial region, and 25% involved the ventricles.
Conclusions:
- Infant brain tumors are predominantly malignant and diverse in type and location.
- A notable familial incidence of tumors was observed, warranting further investigation.
- This study provides essential epidemiological data for pediatric neuro-oncology research.
Abstract:
There are few population-based studies of intracranial tumours in children. This study examines 93 brain tumours in children up to 18 months of age from over 800 childhood central nervous system tumours reported to the Manchester Children's Tumour Registry during the period 1953-1987. The incidence was 1 per 25,000 live births. Of these tumours, 85% were malignant. The three most common tumours were medulloblastoma, ependymoma and juvenile astrocytoma. Eighteen percent of the tumours were in the axial region. Twenty-five percent were connected to the ventricles. The tumour was supratentorial in two-thirds of the children under 6 months of age. A high incidence of tumours in the families of these children was found; tumours were noted in two sets of siblings.