Pediatric central nervous system tumors: retrospective analysis of 60 cases

Purpose: In this study, we aimed to retrospectively evaluate the clinical, surgical and pathologic features and the follow-up results of the malignant central nervous system (CNS) tumors diagnosed in our hospital. Materials and Methods: Between January 2013 and January 2016, patients under 18 years of age who were diagnosed with malignant CNS tumors were included in the study and demographic information, referral complaints, age at diagnosis, methods used in diagnosis, tumor localization, treatment modalities, complications and disease states were recorded. Results: It has been determined that the ages of 60 pediatric patients with CNS tumors in our hospital change between 10 months and 17 years and the median age is 8 years. 21 medulloblastomas, 19 astrocytomas, 6 ependymomas, 4 glioblastoma multiforme, 3 brain stem gliomas, 2 supratentorial primitive neuroectodermal tumors, 2 optic gliomas, 2 glioneuronal tumors, 1 desmoplastic infantile ganglioglioma were diagnosed. Gross total mass excision was performed in 53 of 55 patients (except 3 brain stem gliomas and 2 optic gliomas), and subtotal mass excision was performed in 2 patients. 11 patients had recurrence of disease, and 8 of them had been lost due to progressive disease during this period. 37 cases were followed without disease. Conclusion: Malignant CNS tumors of childhood are the most common malign tumors after leukemias and survival is closely related to tumor biology, location, stage and treatment modalities. Surgery has an important role in treatment. Adjuvant chemotherapy and / or radiotherapy decision should be given by a multidisciplinary approach with risk analysis related to patient and disease.