Cerebellar gliomas in infants: specificity, pathology, and outcome

Childs Nerv Syst. 2001 Jan;17(1-2):31-6. doi: 10.1007/s003810000356.

Abstract

Cerebellar gliomas (CGs) in children are generally associated with a favorable outcome; however, data regarding these tumors in very young children are scarce. We report on our experience with CGs in children less than 3 years old at surgery, compared with a second group older than 3 years. From 1991 to 1996, we operated on 7 children with CGs in the first group and 43 in the second. Psychomotor delay and regression were the first symptoms in 3 cases, and 3 had macrocrania. The tumor was totally removed in all cases. One child died intraoperatively of air embolism and subdural bleeding. Three had malignant tumors (grade 3 or 4). There was no operative mortality or malignancy in the second group of patients. With a mean follow-up of 33 months, all survivors in the first group are disease-free, with no or minimal symptoms, and attend normal schools. The clinical, surgical, and pathological features suggest that children under 3 years of age represent a specific subgroup of CGs.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Cerebellar Neoplasms / complications
  • Cerebellar Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Cerebellar Neoplasms / surgery*
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Glioma / complications
  • Glioma / pathology*
  • Glioma / surgery*
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Male
  • Psychomotor Disorders / diagnosis
  • Psychomotor Disorders / etiology
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Treatment Outcome