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[Optic pathway astrocytoma: an unusual cause of failure to thrive in infants]

I Aguilar Moliner1, J A Costa Orvay, K Juma

  • 1Servicios de Pediatría, Unidad Integrada Hospital Sant Joan de Déu-Clínic, Universidad de Barcelona, España.

Anales De Pediatria (Barcelona, Spain : 2003)
|June 23, 2007
PubMed

Insights

Low-grade astrocytoma can cause failure to thrive in infants. Early diagnosis of diencephalic tumors is crucial for infants presenting with failure to thrive when other causes are ruled out.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Oncology
  • Neuro-oncology
  • Developmental Pediatrics

Background:

  • Failure to thrive (FTT) is a common pediatric concern, necessitating early identification of underlying organic causes.
  • Diencephalic tumors are rare but serious conditions that can present with non-specific symptoms in infants.

Observation:

  • A 2-month-old infant presented with failure to thrive and anorexia.
  • The infant was diagnosed with a low-grade astrocytoma of the optic pathway.

Findings:

  • Despite treatment, the tumor exhibited aggressive local and metastatic progression.
  • The infant's condition was refractory to chemotherapy, leading to a fatal outcome within 3 months of diagnosis.

Implications:

  • Diencephalic tumors should be considered in the differential diagnosis of FTT in infants, particularly when initial investigations are inconclusive.
  • This case highlights the importance of considering rare neurological conditions in pediatric failure to thrive.
  • Prompt recognition and further research into effective treatments for pediatric diencephalic tumors are warranted.

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