title: Atypical clinical features of children with central nervous system tumor: Delayed diagnosis and switch in handedness.
abstract: Herein is described the cases of three children with central nervous system (CNS) tumor, who had switch in handedness occurring before diagnostic confirmation. Although the onset, age, tumor location, and histology were heterogeneous, the diagnosis of CNS tumor was delayed in all three patients. The present experience indicates that switch in handedness should be recognized as a sign of CNS tumor in pediatric patients, and which might prevent delay in diagnosis. Pediatricians should carefully examine such patients who present with some suggestive symptoms of CNS tumor, even when they are unusual, in order to make a timely and appropriate diagnosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Jikei University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan. kenta451@jikei.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Kentaro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yokoi
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Jikei University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Masayoshi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yamaoka
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Jikei University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Ichiro
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Miyata
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Jikei University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Yuichiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nonaka
authors.affiliation: Division of Hematology and Oncology, Tokyo Metropolitan Children's Medical Center, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Yuki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yuza
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Jikei University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Shoko
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kawata
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Jikei University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Masaharu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Akiyama
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Jikei University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Takaaki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yanagisawa
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Jikei University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Hiroyuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ida
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001706:Biopsy; D016543:Central Nervous System Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D002648:Child; D057210:Delayed Diagnosis; D004724:Endoscopy; D005260:Female; D007839:Functional Laterality; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male
keywords: central nervous system tumor; childhood; delay; pediatrician; switch in handedness