Primary pediatric brain tumours in Barbados: 10-year analysis (1978-1988)

The case notes of 29 children ranging in age between 6 months and 17 years were reviewed for the period 1978-88. This study was done to determine if there were any differences when compared with other series in the developed countries. In addition, the distribution, tumour type, clinical presentations, and outcome were reviewed. Of the 29 tumours, 15 tumours were confined to the posterior fossa (52 per cent), and tumours were located supratentorially (48 per cent). Of the 15 tumours in the posterior fossa, five were medulloblastomas, four brain stem astrocytomas, and six cerebellar astrocytomas. The supra-tentorial tumours included, five astrocytomas, two pituitary tumours, two cranio-pharyngiomas, one hypothalamic glioma, and four intraventricular tumours. Clinical presentation was confined to symptoms and signs related to raised intracranial pressure, ataxia, seizures, and cranial nerve involvement. All the tumours were resected surgically except for the brain stem tumours, which were treated in most cases with radiation therapy. The overall mortality was 48 per cent (14 patients died). We were unable to comment on long-term survival except for a 100 per cent survival in patients with pituitary and cerebral tumours, and 67 per cent in patients with cerebellar astrocytomas.