[Optic pathway astrocytoma: an unusual cause of failure to thrive in infants].
Failure to thrive is a frequent cause of consultation in pediatric services. The main objective in these patients is the early detection of an organic cause, if present. We report a case of low-grade astrocytoma of the optic pathway in a 2-month-old child whose main symptoms at diagnosis were failure to thrive and anorexia. Unfortunately, despite therapeutic efforts, the tumor showed local and metastatic progression refractory to chemotherapy. The patient died 3 months after diagnosis. We conclude that diencephalic tumors must be considered in the differential diagnosis of failure to thrive during the first year of life, especially when, after initial investigations, a cause is not found.
Aguilar Moliner
I
I
Servicios de Pediatría, Unidad Integrada Hospital Sant Joan de Déu-Clínic, Universidad de Barcelona, España.
Costa Orvay
J A
JA
Juma
K
K
Costa Clara
J M
JM
Cruz Martínez
O
O
Pou Fernández
J
J
D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005183:Failure to Thrive / Q000209:etiology*; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D020339:Optic Nerve Glioma / Q000175:diagnosis*