[Long-term survival following surgery and radiotherapy of brain tumors in childhood].
BACKGROUND
Brain tumours are seen in about one third of children with neoplastic disease. Treatment usually includes surgery and/or radiotherapy. Radiotherapy may have serious late effects, especially in children under the age of three; but is necessary for survival in children with medulloblastomas or high-grade gliomas.


METHODS
We report ten and 20 years survival rates in 115 children with primary brain tumours (58 medulloblastoma, 14 high-grade gliomas, and 43 low-grade gliomas) operated at the National Hospital and given radiotherapy at the Norwegian Radium Hospital during the years 1970-1995.


RESULTS
No patients with medulloblastomas or high-grade gliomas relapsed after ten years. Overall ten and 20 years survival in children treated with radiotherapy to tumour doses > 50 Gy for medulloblastoma was 51.5% and for high-grade gliomas 20%. Median survival for patients with low-grade gliomas was not reached at 20 years, but these patients were still at risk for late deaths.


CONCLUSIONS
Long-term survival in children with high-grade gliomas or medulloblastoma equals cure, while late relapses may occur in low-grade gliomas.
Lote
K
K
Onkologisk avdeling, Det Norske Radiumhospital, Oslo.
Hatlevoll
R
R
Bakke
S J
SJ
Due-Tønnesen
B
B
Helseth
E
E
Lundar
T
T
Glomstein
A
A
Skullerud
K
K
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality* / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005909:Glioblastoma / Q000401:mortality; D005910:Glioma / Q000401:mortality; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009447:Neuroblastoma / Q000401:mortality; D009664:Norway / Q000453:epidemiology; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant; D015996:Survival Rate
Langtidsoverlevelse etter kirurgi og strålebehandling av hjernesvulster i barnealder.