Long-term survival in children under 3 years of age with low-grade astrocytoma.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study is to analyze clinical aspects and disease-free survival (DFS) in children less than 3 years of age diagnosed with low-grade astrocytoma.


METHODS
In a period of 24 years (1980-2004), a total of 43 (5.4%) children were registered with these characteristics. Twenty-three patients had pilocytic astrocytoma, 18 diffused, and 2 mixed. Thirty-one (72.1%) children had incomplete surgical tumor resection and 12 (27.9%) had a complete tumor resection. Twelve (27.9%) patients had cranial radiotherapy and 17 (39.5%) received chemotherapy. Overall survival was recorded in 23 (53%). DFS was 50% at 250 months of follow-up for the whole group. DFS for the supratentorial group was 60% at 250 months, whereas, for the infratentorial, it was 22% at 120 months (p = 0.008).


CONCLUSIONS
The only favorable prognostic pattern was the supratentorial presentation. Radiotherapy and chemotherapy did not alter the outcome.
Rivera-Luna
Roberto
R
Division of Hem/Oncology and Radiotherapy, National Institute of Pediatrics [Instituto Nacional de Pediatría], Insurgentes Sur no. 3700-C, Mexico City, D F, 04530, México. riveraluna@infosel.net.mx
Zapata-Tarrés
Marta
M
Medina-Sansón
Aurora
A
López-Aguilar
Enrique
E
Niembro-Zúñiga
Ana
A
Amador Zarco
J
J
Marhx-Bracho
Alfonso
A
Rueda-Franco
Fernando
F
Bornstein-Quevedo
Leticia
L
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001254:Astrocytoma / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D019635:Neurosurgical Procedures; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents