Re-operation for recurrent brain tumors in children

In order to determine the efficacy of re-operating on recurrent brain tumors, we did a retrospective analysis of 39 children who underwent such surgery between 1975 and the present. A total of 52 procedures was performed for recurrence of both benign and malignant tumors. 9 patients are neurologically normal and 12 are independent but left with some sort of neurologic deficit for an average of 31 months and 32 months, respectively, postoperatively. 1 child presented severely handicapped and remains so 18 months after his most recent surgery. 17 patients died. 11 improved after re-operation and lived an average of 12 months. 4 were unimproved with an average survival of 10 months. There were 2 surgical deaths for an operative mortality of 4%. We feel that re-operation is a useful therapy for both benign and malignant recurrent brain tumors, and prolongs both the quantity and quality of life in appropriately selected patients.