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Intracranial meningiomas in children: ten-year experience
Péricles Maranhão-Filho1, João Carlos S Campos, Marco A Lima
1Department of Neurosurgery, Brazilian National Cancer Institute, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Insights
Pediatric brain meningiomas are rare central nervous system tumors. This study found that these low-grade tumors in children have a good prognosis following surgical resection.
Area of Science:
- Neuro-oncology
- Pediatric Neurosurgery
Background:
- Meningiomas, neoplasms of the central nervous system, are typically adult-onset tumors.
- While rare in children, pediatric meningiomas can present differently than in adults.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the clinical characteristics, treatment, and outcomes of pediatric brain meningiomas.
- To evaluate the behavior and prognosis of meningiomas in a pediatric cohort.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of 7 pediatric patients with brain meningiomas treated between 1997-2007.
- Analysis of patient demographics, clinical presentation, surgical management, histopathology, and follow-up data.
Main Results:
- Pediatric meningiomas constituted 2.7% of all meningiomas and 2.1% of pediatric brain tumors at the institution.
- The mean age at diagnosis was 7.3 years, with common symptoms including headaches, seizures, and motor deficits.
- Surgical total resection was achieved in 6 of 7 patients, with most tumors classified as World Health Organization (WHO) class I.
Conclusions:
- Meningiomas are uncommon in the pediatric population.
- Pediatric meningiomas are predominantly low-grade and associated with a favorable prognosis after surgical intervention.
- Patients experienced good outcomes with no mortality and minimal residual neurological deficits.
Abstract:
Meningiomas are central nervous system neoplasms derived from arachnoid cap cells. They are the second most common brain tumors after gliomas, but are rare in children. Furthermore, meningiomas exhibit different behavior in this age group. From 1997-2007, 7 children with brain meningiomas were treated at the Department of Neurosurgery, Brazilian National Cancer Institute, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. They represented 2.7% of all brain meningiomas, and 2.1% of all brain tumors, in children followed during this period at our institution. There were 4 boys, and the mean age at diagnosis was 7.3 years. Headaches, seizures, and motor deficits were the most frequent signs at presentation. All patients underwent surgery, and total resection was achieved in 6 of 7 patients. Most lesions were World Health Organization class I meningiomas. There were no deaths, and patients were asymptomatic or demonstrated mild motor or sensory signs at follow-up. In conclusion, meningiomas are rare in the pediatric population. Most of the lesions are low-grade, and the prognosis in this setting is good.
