Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 6, 2026
Transposon Mediated Integration of Plasmid DNA into the Subventricular Zone of Neonatal Mice to Generate Novel Models of Glioblastoma
Published on: February 22, 2015
Age-dependent presentation of tectal plate tumors: preliminary observations
Gian P Ramelli1, Cinzia Cortesi, Duccio Boscherini
1Department of Pediatrics, Ospedale San Giovanni, Bellinzona, Switzerland. gianpaolo.ramelli@eoc.ch
Insights
Tectal plate tumors, intrinsic midbrain growths, present differently based on patient age. Younger children show acute symptoms, while older children exhibit a broader range of neurological deficits, indicating age-dependent clinical manifestations.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Pediatric Oncology
- Neuro-oncology
Background:
- Tectal plate tumors are intrinsic midbrain lesions.
- Their behavior resembles hamartomas more than true neoplasms.
- Clinical presentation is hypothesized to correlate with patient age.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between patient age and the clinical presentation of tectal plate tumors.
- To reassess the presentation of 10 consecutive patients with tectal plate tumors.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 10 consecutive patients diagnosed with tectal plate tumors.
- Categorization of patients based on age (younger than 10 years vs. older).
- Comparison of clinical symptoms, neurological signs, and tumor characteristics between age groups.
Main Results:
- All patients presented with headache and papilledema.
- Four children under 10 years had a short symptom interval, vomiting, and Parinaud's syndrome.
- Six older children had a long symptom interval with gait abnormalities, cognitive and vision impairment, tremor, macrocephaly, and ataxia.
Conclusions:
- The clinical presentation of tectal plate tumors significantly varies with patient age.
- Age is a critical factor influencing the manifestation of symptoms in tectal plate tumors.
- Tumor size was comparable across age groups, supporting age as the primary determinant of presentation.
Abstract:
Tectal plate tumors are intrinsic midbrain tumors that behave more like hamartomas than neoplasms. Postulating that the presentation depends on the age of the affected patients, the authors reassessed the presentation of 10 consecutive patients. All patients presented with headache and papilledema. Four children younger than 10 years presented with a short symptom interval, vomiting, and Parinaud's syndrome. The remaining 6 children presented with a long symptom interval, gait abnormalities, cognitive impairment, vision impairment, tremor, macrocephaly, impaired visual acuity, and ataxia and sometimes with pyramidal signs as well. The difference between groups was statistically significant. Tumor size was similar in the groups. It is therefore concluded that the presentation of tectal plate tumors varies with age.
