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Published on: May 3, 2019
Surgical Treatment of Pediatric Incidentally Found Brain Tumors: A Single-Center Experience
Lukasz Antkowiak1, Mikolaj Zimny2, Krzysztof Starszak1,3
1Department of Pediatric Neurosurgery, Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, 40-752 Katowice, Poland.
Insights
Surgery is a safe and effective treatment for incidentally discovered pediatric brain tumors, offering favorable outcomes. This approach is recommended given the long-term well-being and psychological health of young patients.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Neurosurgery
- Neuro-oncology
- Clinical Outcomes Research
Background:
- Management of incidentally found pediatric brain tumors remains debated.
- Surgical intervention is a potential therapeutic option.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy and safety of surgical treatment for incidentally found pediatric brain tumors.
- To assess long-term outcomes and complications.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of pediatric patients undergoing surgical resection of incidentally found brain tumors.
- Data collected from January 2010 to April 2016.
- Inclusion criteria: pediatric patients with incidentally discovered brain tumors requiring surgical management.
Main Results:
- Seven pediatric patients were included, with a median age of 9.7 years.
- Gross total resection achieved in 71.4% of patients; subtotal resection in 28.6%.
- No surgery-related morbidity observed; one recurrence of atypical neurocytoma noted. All patients remained neurologically intact.
Conclusions:
- Surgical resection is a safe therapeutic approach for incidentally found pediatric brain tumors.
- Favorable long-term outcomes are associated with surgical management.
- Surgery can be considered an initial treatment strategy for pediatric patients with incidentally discovered brain tumors.
Abstract:
There remains much debate about the correct management of incidentally found brain tumors in the pediatric population. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of surgical treatment of incidentally found pediatric brain tumors. A retrospective analysis of pediatric patients who underwent surgical resection of incidentally found brain tumors between January 2010 and April 2016 was performed. A total of seven patients were included. The median age at the time of diagnosis was 9.7 years. The reasons for performing neuroimaging were as follows: impeded speech development (n = 2), shunt control (n = 1), paranasal sinuses control (n = 1), behavior changes (n = 1), head trauma (n = 1), and preterm birth (n = 1). Five patients underwent gross total tumor resection (71.4%), while subtotal resection was performed in two patients (28.6%). There was no surgery-related morbidity. Patients were followed up for a mean of 79 months. One patient with atypical neurocytoma experienced tumor recurrence 45 months following primary resection. All patients remained neurologically intact. The majority of pediatric incidentally found brain tumors were histologically benign. Surgery remains a safe therapeutic approach associated with favorable long-term outcomes. Considering the expected long lifetime of pediatric patients, as well as the psychological burden associated with having a brain tumor as a child, surgical resection can be considered an initial approach.
