Brain tumors in children under 1 year of age: emphasis on the relationship of prognostic factors.
OBJECTIVE
Primary brain tumors in infants under 12 months of age have a different prognosis from older children.


METHODS
A retrospective analysis was done in all patients less than 12 months old with primary brain tumors.


RESULTS
Out of 1682 children with primary brain tumors, 61 (3.6%) were infants under 12 months old. The mean age at diagnosis was 181.6 days (SD 128) with a range of 1 to 364 days. There were 37 males (60.6%). The most common tumor was astrocytoma ( n=22) (36%). Supratentorial tumors were present in 63.9% but this was not related to survival ( p=0.1095). Complete surgical resection ( n=14) was favorable for survival ( p=0.039). Intracranial hypertension at diagnosis did not influence survival ( p=0.89). The overall survival rate was 32%, mean 42.08 (SD 7.38). A total of 24 patients are alive and without evidence of disease.


CONCLUSIONS
Complete surgical resection was necessary for a favorable prognosis, and the long-term effects are a valid problem.
Rivera-Luna
Roberto
R
Department of Oncology, Instituto Nacional de Pediatría, Insurgentes Sur 3700-C, 04530, Mexico City, Mexico. riveraluna@infosel.net.mx
Medina-Sanson
Aurora
A
Leal-Leal
Carlos
C
Pantoja-Guillen
Francisco
F
Zapata-Tarrés
Marta
M
Cardenas-Cardos
Rocio
R
Barrera-Gómez
Rafael
R
Rueda-Franco
Fernando
F
D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000145:classification / Q000401:mortality* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate