Tectal gliomas: natural history of an indolent lesion in pediatric patients.
Publication/Presentation Date
1-1-2000
Abstract
The mesencephalic tectal glioma is a distinctive form of brain stem glioma with an unusually benign clinical course. Periaqueductal location, lack of contrast enhancement, and long periods of stability are classic features. The clinical management of these lesions, especially at the time of radiographic enlargement varies widely in the published literature. It is unclear whether these progressive lesions need to be treated. Accordingly, clinical and radiologic features of 7 patients were reviewed, with attention to the clinical course of the disease after radiologic enlargement. The age at diagnosis ranged from 3.3 to 16.6 years. Six of 7 had MRI tumor enlargement beginning 0.3-5.7 years after initial diagnosis. One of these 6 patients had radiographic progression coupled with a new clinical symptom which was treated with stereotactic radiation therapy. The remaining 5 patients with MRI progression and normal neurological exams were not treated and remain free of new neurologic deficits 1.8-6.9 years after the first radiographic tumor enlargement. The results suggest that pediatric tectal gliomas are a very low-grade lesion. Conservative management in the absence of new clinical symptoms could be argued, reserving radiotherapy or chemotherapy for clinical progression.
Volume
32
Issue
1
First Page
24
Last Page
29
ISSN
1016-2291
Published In/Presented At
Bowers, D. C., Georgiades, C., Aronson, L. J., Carson, B. S., Weingart, J. D., Wharam, M. D., Melhem, E. R., Burger, P. C., & Cohen, K. J. (2000). Tectal gliomas: natural history of an indolent lesion in pediatric patients. Pediatric neurosurgery, 32(1), 24–29. https://doi.org/10.1159/000028893
Disciplines
Business Administration, Management, and Operations | Health and Medical Administration | Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods
PubMedID
10765135
Department(s)
Administration and Leadership
Document Type
Article