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

• Published in: Child's nervous system Vol. 25; no. 7; pp. 855 - 860
• Main Authors: Daszkiewicz, Paweł, Maryniak, Agnieszka, Roszkowski, Marcin, Barszcz, Sławomir
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Berlin/Heidelberg : Springer-Verlag 01-07-2009; Springer-Verlag
• 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; Long-term treatment outcome; Juvenile pilocytic astrocytoma; Children
• ISSN: 0256-7040; 1433-0350
• DOI: 10.1007/s00381-009-0855-1

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.