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[Initial signs and symptoms of brain tumors in children]
S Vázquez Román1, A Martínez Antón, L Llorente Otones
1Departamento de Pediatría, Hospital Universitario Doce de Octubre, Madrid, Spain. vromanfr@hotmail.com
Insights
Pediatric brain tumors present with varied symptoms depending on age, complicating early diagnosis. Recognizing age-specific signs like increased head circumference or vomiting is crucial for timely detection.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric neuro-oncology
- Childhood brain tumor epidemiology
- Clinical presentation of pediatric neoplasms
Context:
- Brain tumors are a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in children.
- Early diagnosis of pediatric brain tumors is critical for improving patient outcomes.
- Understanding presenting features is key to reducing diagnostic delays.
Purpose:
- To describe the common presenting symptoms, localization, and histology of brain tumors in children.
- To identify the most frequent initial and diagnostic symptoms.
- To analyze factors influencing the time to diagnosis.
Summary:
- This retrospective study analyzed 0-16 year olds with brain tumors between 1999-2004.
- Prevalence was higher in males over five; astrocytoma was most common (52% supratentorial).
- Symptoms varied by age: increased head circumference/vomiting (under 2), vomiting/headache (2-5), headache (over 5). Median diagnosis time was 30 days.
Impact:
- Presenting features of pediatric brain tumors are not pathognomonic and vary with age.
- Attention to associated symptoms and symptom chronology is vital for early diagnosis.
- Findings can help clinicians minimize diagnostic delays in pediatric brain tumor cases.
Introduction:
This is a study of the presenting features of brain tumors in children, their localization and histology which is aimed at describing the most frequent symptoms at the beginning and at the moment of diagnosis and minimize the time needed to reach a diagnosis.
Methods:
Retrospective and descriptive study. Data were collected from the medical records of the patients (aged: 0-16) operated on for a brain tumor in our Department from 1999 to 2004. All analyses were conducted with the SPSS 11.0.
Results:
In our study, the prevalence of brain tumors was higher in males (58%) older than five years. Of these, 52% were supratentorial and the most frequent one was astrocytome. Median time to diagnosis was 30 days. A total of 75% were diagnosed during the first 60 days of the onset of the symptoms. We found a statistically significant relationship between age and mean time to d i a gnosis. The most frequent initial symptom was increased head circumference and nausea/vomiting in children younger than 2 years, vomiting and headache in children aged 2-5, and headache in older than 5 years. In all groups, 83% of headache was accompanied by vomiting.
Conclusions:
Mean time to diagnosis in our study is similar to other series. Presenting features vary based on age and they are not pathognomonic of the brain tumors. This hinders early diagnosis. In order to make an early diagnosis, it is important to pay attention to the associated symptoms and chronology.
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