Brain tumors during the first year of life

Of 1728 childhood brain tumors treated at the National Institute of Neurosurgery, Budapest during the years from 1954 until 1995, 83 of the affected children were younger than one year of age. Because of the advent of the CT and MRI scans in the last 11 years, 51 out of the 83 are presented, these being patients treated since these technological advances have been available. There was a male predominance, with 30 boys and 21 girls. Five of the 51 infants were diagnosed before two months of age. The ratio of supratentorial to infratentorial tumors was almost 1:1. Vomiting, alteration of psychomotor development, and macrocrania were the most common presenting features. Craniotomy and tumor debulking was performed in 85% of the children and 94% of the infants. The most frequent histological diagnosis was benign glioma, PNET, malignant glioma, and craniopharyngioma. The surgical mortality rate was 5% for the children and 13% for the infant group. All five neonates survived the surgical procedure. Radiation therapy was given in 29% of the children and in 7% of infants.