Brain Tumors Diagnosed in First Year of Life Linked to Later Complications

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) Jul 23 - Long-term survivors of brain tumors diagnosed in the first year of life have a substantial risk of neurological and cognitive complications, according to findings published in the July issue of the Archives of Disease in Childhood. These patients are also at risk of social isolation and decreased health-related quality of life.

Dr. Michael A. Grotzer and colleagues from University Children’s Hospital of Zurich, Switzerland followed up 27 children with brain tumors diagnosed before 1 year of age at a single institution between 1980 and 2005. The mean follow-up time was 12.3 years in the 11 survivors.

Significant neurological complications were observed in nine (81%) of the 11 patients during long-term follow-up. Two patients (18%) suffered from hypopituitarism at the time of follow-up. Two patients (18%) had short stature and two others (18%) were obese. Eight of 10 patients (80%) experienced cognitive deficits resulting in school or occupational problems. Seven of 10 parents and four of six patients reported behavioral and emotional adjustment problems.

Patients and parents rated health-related quality of life markedly lower than that of healthy controls, with social functioning being the dimension most affected. An association was observed between the lowest HRQoL and high-grade tumor histology and more intense therapy.

“As long-term survival is achievable in an increasing number of children with brain tumors and as more and more treatment options become available, every effort should be made to identify the most promising treatment strategies not only in terms of disease-free survival but also regarding functional and psycho-social outcome,” Dr. Grotzer and colleagues conclude. “As treatment-related late effects may be especially devastating in patients treated at a young age, this is especially important in this subgroup of children.”

Source:

1. Brain Tumors Diagnosed in First Year of Life Linked to Later Complications