Thalamic tumors in children: case series from our institution and literature review.

PURPOSE: To describe a case series of children with thalamic tumors treated at our institution in a 5-year period. METHOD: A retrospective and observational study was performed. The records of 15 patients between 2013 and 2018 were analyzed. RESULTS: From 2013 to 2018, 15 patients were treated at our institution. The male to female index was 1.5, and the median age was 8.9 (IQR 4.75-13). Seven (46%) tumors were left-sided, seven (46%) were right-sided, and one (6%) was bilateral. All patients were symptomatic at the time of treatment. Motor deficit was the most common form of presentation (73%). Gross-total resection was performed in two (13.3%) patients, subtotal resection was performed in two other patients (13.3%), and for the rest of the patients (73.3%), the chosen surgical approach was a stereotactic-guided biopsy. The average of procedures was 3.4, mostly related to the treatment for hydrocephalus. Twelve patients (80%) received treatment for hydrocephalus. Nine patients (75%) were treated with ventriculoperitoneal shunts, and four patients (33%) underwent endoscopic third ventriculostomy. High-grade tumors predominated. Grade IV tumors were diagnosed in six patients (40%), followed by grade III in four patients (26.6%), grade II in three (20%) patients, and grade I in two (13.3%) patients. Chemotherapy was given in 93% of the cases, being temozolomide, the most used drug. CONCLUSION: The clinical and surgical approaches for thalamic tumors in children have changed over time. At our institution, the lesser invasive surgical procedures are now being used more frequently.

Resección de lesiones cerebrales en area rolándica con mapeo cortical intraoperatorio* / Resection of brain lesions in rolandic area with intraoperative cortical mapping

Objetivo. Describir los resultados obtenidos con el mapeo cortical intraoperatorio en el tratamiento de los tumores rolándicos. Método. El estudio se realizó en 27 pacientes (mayo 2000 - mayo 2005) entre 27 y 78 años (16M-11F) con tumores intracraneanos ubicados en el área central. En todos los casos se efectuaron técnicas de localización funcional y se utilizaron potenciales evocados somatosensitivos intraoperatorios y estimulación cortical bipolar. Resultados. La resección fue total en 24 casos y subtotal en 3 casos. En los 23 pacientes que presentaban algún déficit motor previo a la cirugía se logró la mejoría en 17 de ellos, permaneciendo estables 5 y sólo 1 caso padeció un empeoramiento transitorio. Ningún paciente sin déficit previo lo padeció después. No se registraron complicaciones relacionadas con el procedimiento de localización. Conclusión. El mapeo cortical intraoperatorio es una técnica segura y confiable para la preservación de la corteza elocuente en la cirugía de tumores del área rolándica.

Objective: To describe the results obtained with intraoperative cortical mapping in the surgical treatment of rolandic tumors. Method: We studied 27 patients (may 2000-may 2005) between 27 and 78 years old (16 males-11 females) with intracranial tumors located in the rolandic area. In all cases we used techniques of functional localization and, intraoperative somatosensorial evoked potentials and bipolar cortical stimulation. Results: In 24 cases removal was total and in 3 cases was subtotal. Of the 23 cases with preoperative motor symptoms, postoperatively 17 were improved, 5 remained stable and 1 deteriorated transiently. No patient without preoperative deficits was worst. We did not have complications related to the localization procedure. Conclusion: Intraoperative cortical mapping is a safe and sound technique for the preservation of the eloquent cortex during surgery of rolandic tumors.