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Primary Spinal Tumors and Masses in Children
Abdonaser Farzan1, Pooria Ahmadi2, Erfan Tasdighi2
1Department of Pediatric Neurosurgery, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences,Tehran, Iran.
Insights
This study reviewed 37 pediatric spinal cord tumors in Iran, finding neuroepitheliomas most common. Motor symptoms and lumbosacral location were frequent presentations in these rare childhood cancers.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Oncology
- Neuropathology
- Clinical Epidemiology
Background:
- Spinal cord tumors are rare in children and can present with non-specific symptoms.
- Limited data exists on pediatric spinal cord lesions in Iran.
- Early diagnosis and understanding of tumor types are crucial for effective management.
Objectives:
Spinal cord tumors are rare in children, mostly presented with unspecific symptoms that might pose a problem due to their possible malignancy and further complications. However, there are limited data on spinal cord lesions in Iran. This study aimed to present a series of 37 cases of primary spinal tumors treated at the same institution and briefly review their pathology, symptoms, and site of occurrence.
Materials & Methods:
In this study, 37 cases of spinal cord tumors and masses were selected within March 2007-2017, excluding spinal dysraphism. The data on age, gender, clinical presentation, location of the mass, and pathology were retrospectively collected.
Results:
The mean age at diagnosis was 5 years and 8 months (standard deviation: 4.1 years). Moreover, 21 and 16 cases were male and female, respectively (male-to-female ratio: 1.31). Pathological findings included 9 neuroepitheliomas (i.e., 6 neuroblastoma, 2 ganglioneuroma, and 1 ganglioneuroblastoma/ganglioneuroma), 4 ependymomas, 3 primitive neuroectodermal tumors, 3 glial tumors, 4 neurodevelopmental tumors, 3 lymphomas, 1 hemangiopericytoma, and 1 neurofibroma. In addition, 26 (74.2%), 14 (40%), 6 (16.6%), and 4 (11.4%) patients had motor symptoms, pain, sensory symptoms, and urinary symptoms, respectively. The most common location of occurrence was the lumbosacral region.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, while differing in pathological composition and location of tumors in comparison to other papers, this study presents possible presentations and/or expected pathologies in pediatric spinal cord tumors.
