Fluorescence-guided surgery with 5-aminolevulinic acid for resection of brain tumors in children--a technical report.
BACKGROUND
5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA) can be used as an adjunct for the surgery of adult malignant glioma and improves the rate of gross total resection and patient survival. So far, only three casuistic reports of fluorescence-guided surgery used in children have been published. We report our pilot series of 16 pediatric brain tumors treated with 5-ALA.


METHODS
Sixteen patients (mean age 9 years, range 1-16 years) received a standardized 5-ALA dose according to the published protocol after informed parental consent. The fluorescence status (positive versus negative) in correlation with histology as well as blood samples and adverse clinical symptoms were recorded.


RESULTS
Histology revealed pilocytic astrocytoma (n = 7), classical medulloblastoma (n = 4), anaplastic astrocytoma (n = 1), glioblastoma (n = 3) and anaplastic ependymoma (n = 1). Positive fluorescence was observed in cases of anaplastic astrocytoma, glioblastoma, and medulloblastoma, respectively. Significant increases were registered for alanine aminotransferase (14.92 ± 1.106 U/l vs. 37.70 ± 3.795 U/l, P = 0.0020) and gamma glutamyl transpeptidase (12.69 ± 1.638 U/l vs. 39.29 ± 6.342 U/l, P = 0.0156), correlated with young age. No further adverse reactions were evident.


CONCLUSIONS
Positive fluorescence was observed in two high-grade gliomas and one medulloblastoma after oral administration of 5-ALA. Thus, 5-ALA appears capable of inducing fluorescence in pediatric high-grade tumors. Adverse reactions observed in children were similar to those reported for adults, although very young children might be at increased risk. Further studies are required to elucidate pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties of 5-ALA in children and to assess its prognostic role in the resection of pediatric brain tumors.
Department of Neurosurgery, Medical Faculty, Heinrich-Heine-Universität, Moorenstrasse 5, 40225, Düsseldorf, Germany, thomas.beez@med.uni-duesseldorf.de.
Thomas
T
Beez
Sevgi
S
Sarikaya-Seiwert
Hans-Jakob
HJ
Steiger
Daniel
D
Hänggi
D000293:Adolescent; D000622:Aminolevulinic Acid; D001254:Astrocytoma / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D005453:Fluorescence; D005909:Glioblastoma / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008527:Medulloblastoma / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D016343:Monitoring, Intraoperative; D060787:Neoplasm Grading; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents; D010865:Pilot Projects; D025321:Surgery, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*
D017319:Photosensitizing Agents; D000622:Aminolevulinic Acid