[Congenital brain tumors: nine cases and review of the literature].
OBJECTIVE
To review congenital brain tumors patients younger than 2 months diagnosed in our Department.


METHODS
Nine congenital brain tumors were diagnosed between 1983 and 2001 among a consecutive serie of 484 paediatric cerebral tumors (patients less than 15 years). Clinical and radiological findings and prognostic factors are analyzed.


RESULTS
There were two teratomas, two glioblastomas, one xanthogranuloma affecting cavernous sinus, one supratentorial PNET and one medulloblastoma and one oligodendroglioma. In one case histological diagnosis was not possible. In four cases antenatal diagnosis was done by means of ultrasonography and MRI. Seven patients were operated on, with one intraoperative exitus. Five patients died due to tumoral progression in the first two months after surgery. Another case was considered not amenable for surgical resection, and thus was not operated. He died in the fifth day of life. Three patients are alive 14, 36 and 72 months after surgery, one with severe psicomotor delay, another one with normal mental status but dependent on seizures medication and the last one with mild mental delay. In the last case of our serie intrauterine death happened by 33(rd )week and histological diagnosis was not possible.


CONCLUSIONS
Prognosis for congenital brain tumors depends on the operative morbidity and tumor histology. However final prognosis in these patients is still discouraging, despite early surgery and operative and anaesthetic improvements.
Hinojosa
J
J
Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre. Madrid. Spain. hhinojosa@hdoc.insalud.es
Esparza
J
J
Muñoz
M J
MJ
Muñoz
A
A
D000328:Adult; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000151:congenital* / Q000175:diagnosis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male