2Biruni University School of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Istanbul, Turkey
3Bursa Uludag University School of Medicine, Department of Neurosurgery, Bursa, Turkey
4Bursa Uludag University School of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Oncology, Bursa, Turkey
5Bursa Uludag University School of Medicine, Department of Radiation Oncology, Bursa, Turkey
6Bursa Uludag University School of Medicine, Department of Surgical Pathology, Bursa, Turkey DOI : 10.5137/1019-5149.JTN.43689-23.4 AIM: To comprehensively analyze clinical presentation, diagnosis, and management approaches of brain tumors in infants under one year of age.
MATERIAL and METHODS: We conducted a retrospective analysis of clinical data retrieved from medical records of infants who underwent surgical treatment for intracranial mass lesions at our institution from January 2006 to December 2016. The data encompassed parameters such as age at diagnosis, symptoms, tumor location, histology, surgical procedures, adjuvant treatment, and survival outcomes. Cases involving dermoid, epidermoid cysts, and other skull-based lesions were excluded from the analysis.
RESULTS: Our analysis identified twenty-three cases of brain tumors diagnosed within the first year of life, comprising 14 boys and 9 girls. The median age at diagnosis was 8.2 months, and the most common presenting symptoms were nausea and vomiting, as well as head circumference abnormalities. Successful gross total resection was achieved in 75.8% of patients, with choroid plexus papilloma being the most frequently encountered histopathological diagnosis. Eight patients received adjuvant chemotherapy, while one patient underwent salvage radiotherapy.
CONCLUSION: The treatment of brain tumors in infants during their first year of life presents significant challenges. The affected patients exhibit diverse tumor pathologies occurring at various locations within the brain. Further research is warranted to establish optimal treatment options for this specific population.
Keywords : Brain neoplasms, Infant, Surgery