title: Gangliogliomas in childhood.
abstract: Ganglioglioma is a tumour of the central nervous system composed of an admixture of dysplastic nerve cells resembling pleomorphic ganglion cells, and glial elements, which may be astrocytic and/or oligodendroglial in appearance. A series of 12 patients aged between 9 months and 15 years 9 months, all of whom had suffered epilepsy refractory to medical treatment for up to 8 years, is presented. Computed tomographic and magnetic resonance scans were of prime use in localisation of the tumours. Calcification was noted preoperatively in 4 of 12 cases. The majority of patients obtained at least partial relief from symptoms after complete or partial resection. Histologically, 11 of the tumours included grade 1 astrocytic elements and the remaining one exhibited grade 2 areas. The diagnosis of ganglioglioma should be suspected in a child with refractory, long-standing epilepsy. Prognosis of these tumours is determined by the astrocytic component; if this is of low grade, surgical excision may result in marked symptomatic improvement or cure.
authors.affiliation: Department of Histopathology, Adelaide Children's Hospital, South Australia.
authors.forename: N M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Carli
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hanieh
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Clark
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Bourne
authors.forename: R W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Byard
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery*; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D009447:Neuroblastoma / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery*; D009457:Neuroglia / Q000473:pathology; D009474:Neurons / Q000473:pathology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed