Follow-up of children with brain tumors.
One hundred two patients were evaluated for late effects of brain tumor in childhood by a medical record review and follow-up questionnaire. The patients had survived brain tumor for 5 to 47 years (median, 18 years). Among 30 patients who had received brain irradiation, 3 were successfully treated for second neoplasms that developed within the radiotherapy field 11, 16, and 29, years later, respectively. Moderate or severe functional deficits were present in 24 patients (24%), more commonly among those treated before 2 years of age and among those with cerebral astrocytoma. The other 78 patients (76%) had mild or no gross deficits, and all but 1 of them were attending school or were employed. Twenty-one patients in the series reported a total of 41 offspring, none of whom had cancer or mental retardation. Although markedly diverse performance levels were found among the 102 long-term survivors of childhood brain tumors, the majority had an acceptable quality of life.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001254:Astrocytoma / Q000150:complications / Q000401:mortality / Q000532:radiotherapy; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000401:mortality / Q000532:radiotherapy; D002528:Cerebellar Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000401:mortality / Q000532:radiotherapy; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D004522:Educational Status; D004806:Ependymoma / Q000150:complications / Q000401:mortality / Q000532:radiotherapy; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D009378:Neoplasms, Multiple Primary; D011788:Quality of Life