Pediatric spinal cord tumors and masses

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Oncology
• Neurology
• Neurosurgery

Background:

• Spinal cord tumors represent 1-10% of pediatric central nervous system tumors.
• Understanding their etiology and clinical outcomes is crucial for effective management.
• This study details clinical presentation, histology, outcomes, and management of pediatric spinal cord tumors.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present detailed information on the clinical presentation, histological findings, outcomes, functional assessment, and management of pediatric spinal cord tumors.
• To investigate the prevalence of different tumor types and their association with patient demographics and outcomes.
• To highlight potential disparities in tumor types compared to existing literature.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective, descriptive study design.
• Inclusion of thirty-five children diagnosed with spinal cord tumors or masses (excluding dysraphism).
• Analysis of clinical presentation, histological findings, treatment modalities, and functional outcomes.

Main Results:

• Neurodevelopmental tumors (31%), astrocytomas (29%), and neuroblastomas (14%) were the most common types.
• Mean age at diagnosis was 6.6 years; neuroblastomas occurred significantly earlier (mean 0.4 years).
• Pain (57%) and extremity weakness (46%) were common presenting symptoms; 83% retained mobility, and 23% had neurogenic bowel/bladder issues.

Conclusions:

• Intramedullary tumors are predominant, but this cohort showed a high incidence of developmental tumors, possibly due to referral center status.
• Astrocytomas and neuroblastomas were associated with poorer outcomes.
• Further investigation into the associations between tumor type, symptoms, treatment, and functional outcomes in pediatric spinal cord tumors is warranted.