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Stereotactic biopsy for brainstem tumors in pediatric patients

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Abstract

Objective

Our aim is to describe clinical and paraclinical features in patients who underwent stereotactic-guided biopsy for brainstem tumors.

Methods

A study of case series was made by reviewing the records of patients who underwent stereotactic biopsy for brainstem tumors.

Results

Stereotactic biopsy for brainstem tumors was performed (between 2000 and 2008) in 20 children (11 girls, and 9 boys), mean age 7.95 ± 3.12 years at the time of diagnosis. The mean time from onset of symptoms to diagnosis was 6.59 ± 13.58 months (0.50–60 months). The most frequent symptoms and signs at onset were related to disturbance of cerebellar function and cranial nerve nuclei. Location was pontomesencephalic (35%), pontine (30%), pontomedullar (25%), and in the whole brainstem (10%). The most common type of image was intrinsic-diffused (55%). The histopathology was anaplastic astrocytoma (30%), followed by fibrillary and pilocytic types (25% each), low-grade astrocytoma (5%), high-grade astrocytoma (5%), and normal tissue (10%). Mild complications were observed in only two cases.

Conclusions

Stereotactic biopsy done for clarifiying a diagnostic imaging in brainstem tumors is important in obtaining a definitive diagnosis with a low rate of complications.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departamento de Neurocirugía Pediátrica, Instituto Nacional de Pediatría, Insurgentes Sur 3700-C, Col. Insurgentes Cuicuilco, Deleg. Coyoacán, Mexico, C.P. 04530, Mexico, D.F.

    José L. Pérez-Gómez, Carlos A. Rodríguez-Álvarez, Alfonso Marhx-Bracho & Fernando Rueda-Franco

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  1. José L. Pérez-Gómez
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  2. Carlos A. Rodríguez-Álvarez
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  3. Alfonso Marhx-Bracho
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  4. Fernando Rueda-Franco
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Correspondence to Carlos A. Rodríguez-Álvarez.

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Pérez-Gómez, J.L., Rodríguez-Álvarez, C.A., Marhx-Bracho, A. et al. Stereotactic biopsy for brainstem tumors in pediatric patients. Childs Nerv Syst 26, 29–34 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00381-009-1000-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00381-009-1000-x

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