Surgical Treatment of Brain Tumors in Infants Younger than Six Months of Age and Review of the Literature

摘要: Objective Brain tumors are rare in infants who younger than six months of age. These can be challenging to treat surgically. We analyzed a modern series patients treated by multidisciplinary team at tertiary care center and performed literature review this unique population. Methods Retrospective clinical data were collected for surgically intracranial mass lesions The Children's Hospital Philadelphia from 1998 2007. Dermoid cysts other skull-based excluded the analysis. Results Sixteen age underwent surgery primary lesions. median was 5.2 (range, 1.4-6 age). Children most often presented with bulging fontanelle, hydrocephalus, or macrocephaly (seven patients). Vomiting seen five patients, cranial nerve palsies one patient, seizures three patients. All had tumor resections postoperatively monitored intensive unit. final pathology consisted atypical teratoid/rhabdoid (three patients), primitive neuroectodermal tumor/medulloblastoma choroid plexus papilloma (two astrocytoma ganglioglioma desmoplastic infantile glioblastoma multiforme (one patient), carcinoma patient). Two intraoperative deaths occurred. Of surviving 14, gross total resection achieved four. Adjuvant therapy determined composed neuro-oncology, neurosurgery, radiation oncology. Seven chemotherapy, patient proton beam therapy. Five-year overall survival 45%. eight neurological sequelae, developmental outcome variable. Conclusions uncommon children Patients present variety pathologies. survive have sequelae. More studies necessary understand impact that different treatment options, pathology, location on outcome.