Study on primary central nervous system lymphoma in pediatric patients

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Oncology
• Neuro-oncology
• Immunology

Background:

• Primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL) presents significant diagnostic and treatment challenges in pediatric patients.
• PCNSL in immunocompetent children is infrequently reported, necessitating further research into its characteristics and outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the demographic and clinical features of pediatric PCNSL.
• To analyze treatment strategies and patient outcomes in pediatric PCNSL cases.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective review of 11 immunocompetent pediatric patients diagnosed with PCNSL (January 2012 - April 2020).
• Data collection included demographics, presenting symptoms, tumor characteristics, treatment, and prognosis.
• Survival analysis was performed using Kaplan-Meier method and SPSS software.

Main Results:

• The cohort included 11 patients (10 males, 1 female) aged 4-15 years (median 10.6).
• Headache was the most frequent symptom (81.8%). Tumors occurred in both supratentorial and infratentorial regions.
• Average survival was 44.4 months, with 5 deaths within the follow-up period.

Conclusions:

• Headache is a primary symptom of pediatric PCNSL.
• PCNSL exhibits imaging features similar to other intracranial tumors and carries a poor prognosis.
• Pediatric neurosurgeons must be vigilant in diagnosing and managing intracranial lymphoma in children.