RESUMEN
INTRODUCTION: Central nervous system tumors are the second most frequent group of neoplasms in children and are the main cause of cancer-related deaths in the pediatric population. There are no specific clinical findings. Consequently clinical data that would aid diagnosis are required. OBJECTIVE: To establish the presenting signs and symptoms of brain tumors in childhood according to age and identify their influence on diagnostic delay. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We retrospectively studied 69 patients with central nervous system tumors diagnosed between January 1997 and December 2002 in the Virgen del Rocío children's hospital. RESULTS: At diagnosis, 60.9 % of the patients were in the most advanced clinical stages. The most commonly found signs were papilledema, ataxia and squint, with no differences among age groups. The most frequent symptoms were vomiting, headache and behavior changes (irritability in children aged less than 5 years and unhappiness in children aged more than 5 years). Diagnostic delay was longer in older children. CONCLUSIONS: The diagnostic signs and symptoms of central nervous tumors are non-specific. A high index of suspicion is required for early diagnosis.