Long-term functional outcome of surgical treatment of juvenile pilocytic astrocytoma of the cerebellum in children

Purpose Increasing incidence of pediatric brain tumors and improving survival rates encouraged us to assess long-term functional outcome of patients with cerebellar juvenile pilocytic astrocytoma (JPA). Materials and methods Our study encompassed 105 children treated since 1980-2005 and consisted in...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Child's nervous system 2009-07, Vol.25 (7), p.855-860
Main Authors: Daszkiewicz, Paweł, Maryniak, Agnieszka, Roszkowski, Marcin, Barszcz, Sławomir
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Adult
Astrocytoma - mortality
Astrocytoma - surgery
Astrocytoma - therapy
Cerebellar Neoplasms - mortality
Cerebellar Neoplasms - surgery
Cerebellar Neoplasms - therapy
Cerebellum - surgery
Child
Child, Preschool
Education
Female
Follow-Up Studies
Humans
Infant
Male
Medicine
Medicine & Public Health
Mood Disorders - etiology
Nervous System Diseases - etiology
Neurosciences
Neurosurgery
Original Paper
Parents - psychology
Patient Satisfaction
Surveys and Questionnaires
Survival
Treatment Outcome
Young Adult
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Summary:Purpose Increasing incidence of pediatric brain tumors and improving survival rates encouraged us to assess long-term functional outcome of patients with cerebellar juvenile pilocytic astrocytoma (JPA). Materials and methods Our study encompassed 105 children treated since 1980-2005 and consisted in analysis of mailed, custom-designed questionnaires. Results Mean follow-up time was 8.3 years. Sixty out of 104 patients presented permanent neurological deficits and 47/104 presented significant behavioral disorders. Eighty-nine children continued their education at primary, secondary or high school level. Most patients and their parents were satisfied with treatment outcome. Patients' and parents' notes were usually concordant. Conclusions Long-term functional treatment outcome of cerebellar JPA is relatively favorable, in spite of permanent neurological deficits and emotional disorders in over half of the patients. Vermian tumors are associated with worse long-term functional outcome. Neurological deficits and emotional disorders do not preclude further education and independent functioning.
ISSN:0256-7040
1433-0350
DOI:10.1007/s00381-009-0855-1