Thalamic tumors in children. Long-term follow-up and treatment guidelines.
The authors review the cases of 60 children (aged 5 months to 18 years) with thalamic tumors who were seen at The Hospital for Sick Children between 1951 and 1983. The diagnosis of thalamic tumor was based on neuroradiological studies; 33 children were first seen in the pre-computerized tomography (CT) era and 27 since the advent of CT scanning. Histological diagnosis was obtained in 37 patients at the time of operation. A further four tumors were verified histologically at autopsy. Thirty-six patients required cerebrospinal fluid shunt placement. Sixteen patients had no surgery on their tumor, three underwent needle biopsy, 20 underwent open biopsy, and 21 had partial resection. Forty-four patients were irradiated. All 20 patients with malignant tumors died, with a mean survival time of 1.1 years. Of 19 patients with benign tumors, 11 died, with a mean survival time of 5.3 years, and eight are still alive after a mean period of 7.2 years since diagnosis. Based on this series, the authors recommend open biopsy of thalamic tumors (and resection if deemed safe), followed by radiation in selected cases.
D000293:Adolescent; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005910:Glioma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D009373:Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013786:Thalamic Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014402:Tuberous Sclerosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery