Profile and Outcome of Pediatric Brain Tumors - Experience from a Tertiary Care Pediatric Oncology Unit in South India.

CONTEXT: Tumors of the central nervous system (CNS) constitute the second most common pediatric cancers. Unlike leukemia, management of CNS tumors requires a good multidisciplinary team. Higher rates of treatment abandonment are documented in view of complexity of the treatment with long duration, involving neurosurgery, radiation, chemotherapy, and high cost of treatment. Morbidity associated with CNS tumors may be significant in terms of physical deficits as well as neuropsychological and neuroendocrine sequelae. Pediatric neurooncology is still at a very nascent stage in the developing countries. There are only a few reports on the multidisciplinary approach and outcomes of pediatric brain tumors in developing countries. AIMS: The aim of this study is to identify the clinicopathological profile of Pediatric CNS tumors in a tertiary care center located in South India in comparison with reports from other low-and middle-income Countries. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: A retrospective analysis of medical records of all children diagnosed with brain tumors from January 2012 to November 2016 at our institute was done. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A retrospective study of clinical, pathological profile, and outcomes of children <18 years diagnosed with brain tumors at our institute from January 2012 to November 2016 was done. Histopathological categorization was done as per the WHO classification 2007. The multidisciplinary treatment with respect to surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy was noted and the outcomes were recorded. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: R for Statistical Computing (Version 3.0.2; 2013-09-25). RESULTS: A total of 52 children were diagnosed with male preponderance of 66.6%. Highest incidence was noted in the age group of 0-4 years (50%). Majority of them were supratentorial (59.6%). CNS embryonal tumors contributed to 48% of all our brain tumors. 73% of them underwent either resection or biopsy. Eight (15.3%) of them died due to the progression of disease, but 44% abandoned treatment due to the progression/recurrence of disease. Those lost to follow-up were mostly among the high-risk groups with poor prognosis such as pontine glioma, medulloblastoma (high risk), and primitive neuroectodermal tumor. CONCLUSIONS: Although brain tumors constituted 30% of all our solid tumors, only 56% of them received appropriate treatment and 25% abandoned treatment. High rates of abandonment were a consequence of late diagnosis, complex multidisciplinary treatment involved, high treatment cost, lack of uniformity in management between different oncology centers and poor prognosis of the tumor subtype.

Acquired Toxoplasmosis Presenting with a Brainstem Granuloma in an Immunocompetent Adolescent.

BACKGROUND: Toxoplasmosis is an uncommon disease in immunocompetent people. CASE CHARACTERISTICS: We report an adolescent boy with central nervous system toxoplasmosis who presented with progressive lower cranial nerve palsies and a ring-enhancing lesion on neuroimaging. INTERVENTION: Diagnosis of toxoplasmosis was confirmed on histopathology of the excised lesion. MESSAGE: Toxoplasmosis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of focal brain lesions irrespective of immune status.

Craniostenosis: a neurosurgeon's perspective.

In pediatric neurosurgery departments in India, craniosynostosis is being increasingly identified and dealt with during the past several years. The management of this problem is well established in units that have a strong pediatric bias, whereas it is still in infancy in certain departments. Some misconceptions exist regarding this condition with reference to clinical, genetic aspects and management-in particular, the surgical indications. The experience gained for more than 2 decades of treating this condition as well as the problems faced in the management of this condition will be discussed. Although the terms craniostenosis and craniosynostosis do not mean quite the same thing, the terms are used interchangeably and will be done so in this communication.

Management of CSF leak following spinal surgery.

PURPOSE: Postoperative CSF leak is a known complication of spinal surgery especially after surgery for neural tube defects (NTD). The problem can metamorphose into a severe infection. This article hopes to shed some light on the management of these problems and suggests precautions so as to reduce their occurrence. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective analysis of 102 children, between the ages of 1 day and 12 years, operated for various spinal pathologies, over the past 2.5 years by the same surgeon (CB) was done. The various methods of dural closure were noted. The methods of management of postoperative CSF leaks were analysed, and the patients were followed till discharge. RESULTS: The incidence of CSF leak was found to be 12.7%. The methods of management included lumbar drain only (n = 7), lumbar drain with re-exploration (n = 3), lumbar drain followed by lumboperitoneal shunt (n = 2) and only lumboperitoneal shunt (n = 1). The use of fibrin glue did not seem to significantly prevent the incidence of CSF leak in cases. CONCLUSIONS: Primary and meticulous dural closure is sine qua non in preventing postoperative CSF leak. A lumbar drain is a convenient and economical method of managing the problem initially failing which more invasive methods like re-exploration may be employed.

Management outcome of the transcallosal, transforaminal approach to colloid cysts of the anterior third ventricle: an analysis of 78 cases.

BACKGROUND: Colloid cysts are not common brain lesions and account for 0.2-2.0% of all brain lesions. Transcallosal, transforaminal approach is a safe route and the most direct path to excise third ventricular colloid cyst, without dependence on hydrocephalus. AIM: To assess the surgical outcome of patients with colloid cysts of the anterior third ventricle treated by the transcallosal, transforaminal approach. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Seventy-eight patients operated by the above approach over a period of 20 years were analyzed. A pre- and postoperative neurological assessment was done in all the patients. Neuro-cognitive evaluation of corpus callosum function was done in the last 20 patients. Computer tomography scan of the brain was done in all patients pre- and postoperatively. RESULTS: Clinical features of raised intracranial pressure without localizing signs were the commonest presenting feature in 52 (66.7%) patients. Hydrocephalus was present in 65 (83.3%) patients. All patients underwent the transcallosal, transforaminal approach, and total excision of the lesion was achieved in 77 patients and subtotal in 1. Four patients required a postoperative shunt for acute hydrocephalus. There was no incidence of postoperative disconnection syndrome. In two patients, there was recurrence of the lesion after 2 and 6 years, respectively. Two patients died in the postoperative period. CONCLUSION: Colloid cyst is surgically curable. Early detection and total excision of the lesion can be a permanent cure with low mortality and minimum morbidity, when compared to the natural history of the disease. The limited anterior callosotomy does not result in disconnection syndromes or behavioral disturbance.