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Follow-up and quality of survival of 67 consecutive children with CNS tumors

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Abstract

We report the finding at follow-up in 67 consecutive children with central nervous system tumors treated over a 5-year-period at a single institution. The diagnoses were supratentorial astrocytoma (n = 12), cerebellar astrocytoma (n = 10), ependymoma (n = 9), medulloblastoma (n = 9), brain stem glioma (n = 6), optic pathway glioma (n = 5), and others (n = 16). The survival rates were 83% for supratentorial astrocytomas at a median of 46.5 months, 90% for cerebellar astrocytomas and 55% for ependymomas at 40 months, respectively, 55% for medulloblastomas at 22 months, 33% for brain stem gliomas at 23 months, and 80% for optic pathway gliomas at 49 months. With regard to neurological sequelae, 13 patients were treated for epilepsy, 13 patients had mild to moderate neurological deficits, and 4 patients were severely disabled. Seventeen of 37 tested patients performed below average on formal neuropsychometric testing, one-fourth attended special education courses, and at least one-fourth suffered from behavioral and adjustment problems.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatrics, University of Graz, Auenbruggerplatz, A-8036, Graz, Austria

    I. Slave, C. Salchegger, C. Hauer, C. Urban & W. Schwinger

  2. Department of Neurosurgery, University of Graz, Auenbruggerplatz, A-8036, Graz, Austria

    R. Oberbauer & M. Mokry

  3. Department of Radiology, University of Graz, Auenbruggerplatz, A-8036, Graz, Austria

    B. Pakisch, F. Ebner & G. Ranner

  4. Department of Pathology, University of Graz, Auenbruggerplatz, A-8036, Graz, Austria

    R. Kleinert

  5. Department of Medical Psychology, University of Graz, Auenbruggerplatz, A-8036, Graz, Austria

    L. Wurst

Authors
  1. I. Slave
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  2. C. Salchegger
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  3. C. Hauer
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  4. C. Urban
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  5. R. Oberbauer
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  6. B. Pakisch
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  7. F. Ebner
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  8. W. Schwinger
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  9. M. Mokry
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  10. G. Ranner
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  11. R. Kleinert
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  12. L. Wurst
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Slave, I., Salchegger, C., Hauer, C. et al. Follow-up and quality of survival of 67 consecutive children with CNS tumors. Child's Nerv Syst 10, 433–443 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00303608

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00303608

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