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Epilepsy and low grade gliomas in pediatric neurosurgery
A Ceddia1, C Di Rocco, A Iannelli
1Sezione Autonoma di Neurochirurgia Pediatrica, Università Cattolica, Roma, Italy.
Insights
Surgery for low-grade gliomas in children with epilepsy is effective. Tumor removal alone, compared to removal with surrounding tissue, led to better seizure control.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Neurosurgery
- Epilepsy Research
- Oncology
Background:
- Low-grade gliomas are a common brain tumor type in children.
- Epilepsy is a frequent presenting symptom, often the sole indicator of these tumors.
- Intracranial hypertension and focal neurological deficits can also occur.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of surgical interventions for low-grade gliomas in pediatric patients with epilepsy.
- To compare seizure control outcomes between different surgical approaches.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 33 children diagnosed with low-grade gliomas and epilepsy.
- Surgical procedures included tumor removal (lesionectomy) in 21 cases.
- Tumor removal combined with corticectomy and/or lobectomy in 12 cases.
Main Results:
- Epilepsy treatment was more effective in children who underwent lesionectomy only.
- Patients receiving tumor removal coupled with nervous system tissue resection showed less effective seizure control.
- All 33 children underwent surgical intervention for their condition.
Conclusions:
- Lesionectomy alone appears to be a more effective surgical strategy for seizure management in pediatric low-grade gliomas.
- Minimally invasive tumor removal may offer better epilepsy outcomes compared to extensive resections involving surrounding brain tissue.
Abstract:
A series of 33 children affected by low grade gliomas and epilepsy is reported. Seizures are often the only symptom of these patients; intracranial hypertension and focal neurological signs may be present too. All children were operated on; tumor removal was performed in 21 cases, tumor removal associated with corticectomy and/or lobectomy was performed in 12 patients. The treatment of epilepsy has been more effective in the first group of patients with only lesionectomy than in the second one, in which neoplasm removal was coupled with nervous system tissue asportation.