Central nervous system (CNS) tumors in the first six months of life: the Children's Hospital Los Angeles experience, 1979-2005.

BACKGROUND: The authors report the experience at the Children's Hospital Los Angeles with brain tumors diagnosed before 6 months of age, describing the characteristics of the patients, their tumors, treatment strategies, and prognostic factors. METHODS: Thirty-three children who were identified between 1979 and 2005 were included. Twelve were female (36%). There were 11 gliomas, 9 choroid plexus tumors, 8 medulloblastomas and supratentorial primitive neuroectodermal tumors (PNET), 2 atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumors (ATRT), and 1 each of ependymoma, craniopharyngioma, and immature teratoma. Locations of primary tumors included 21 supratentorial (64%) and 7 posterior fossa, and 5 tumors involved both compartments. The treatment strategies included 5 patients with biopsy only, 18 less than gross total resections (