Pediatric low-grade glial, glioneuronal and neuronal tumors: a retrospective study of 85 cases

Pediatric low-grade glial, glioneuronal, and neuronal tumors are the most prevalent solid tumors in children, accounting for more than one-third of all pediatric brain tumors. These tumors exhibit a wide range of clinicopathological characteristics. This study aimed to define the epidemiological and clinicopathological profile of these tumors based on the experience of the Pathology Department of the Specialties Hospital of Ibn Sina University Hospital in Rabat.

A retrospective descriptive study was conducted on 85 cases of low-grade glial, glioneuronal, and neuronal tumors in patients aged ≤ 18 years at the Pathology Department of the Specialties Hospital of Ibn Sina University Hospital in Rabat over a period of 10 years (2016-2025).

The mean age of the patients was 10 years, and there was a slight male predominance. The most common clinical presentation was intracranial hypertension, observed in 59 cases (69%). Supratentorial locations were identified in 49 cases (57.6%). Neuroimaging using MRI identified both cystic and solid components in 61 cases. Histopathological examination identified pilocytic astrocytoma as the most common tumour entity (61/85 cases, 71.7%), followed by ganglioglioma (10/85 cases, 11.7%) and dysembryoplastic neuroepithelial tumour (5/85 cases, 6%). Subependymal giant cell astrocytoma and pleomorphic xanthoastrocytoma were each diagnosed in two cases (2.3%). Angiocentric glioma, polymorphous low-grade neuroepithelial tumor of the young, central neurocytoma, extraventricular neurocytoma, and pilomyxoid astrocytoma were each identified in one case (1.2%).

Pediatric low-grade glial, glioneuronal, and neuronal tumors are a heterogeneous group with distinct clinicopathological features. This study defines their profile at our institution and supports the need for larger multicenter studies.