title: Outcome of children with low-grade cerebellar astrocytoma: long-term complications and quality of life.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the long-term outcome of surgically treated low-grade cerebellar astrocytomas in children.
  
  
  METHODS
  We followed 31 consecutive patients under 16 years of age who were diagnosed between 1980 and 2005 in a single institution. In 21 of 31 survivors (median follow-up time 7.9 years; range 5.6-27.4 years) who agreed to participate, tumor control, neurological and cognitive complications, and their impact on behavioral and emotional adjustment and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) were comprehensively assessed qualitatively and quantitatively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Neurological sequelae were found in 43%. However, age-appropriate ability to perform daily life activities was normal in all patients. Remarkably, cognitive deficits leading to significant school problems occurred in 19% and behavioral and emotional adjustment disturbances in 27%. In comparison with healthy controls, the survivors rated their HRQoL similarly or even higher.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Childhood low-grade cerebellar astrocytomas have an excellent cure rate by tumor surgery alone. When compared with other pediatric brain tumors, the risk of neurological, cognitive, emotional, and behavioral complications is relatively small. HRQoL is similar to that of healthy controls.
authors.affiliation: Division of Oncology, University Children's Hospital of Zurich, Steinwiesstrasse 75, 8032, Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Tycho J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Zuzak
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Poretti
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Drexel
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zehnder
authors.forename: Eugen
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Boltshauser
authors.forename: Michael A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Grotzer
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D001254:Astrocytoma / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D002528:Cerebellar Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D002648:Child; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D011788:Quality of Life; D017741:Survivors; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome