Uncommon types of brain tumors among Chinese children

Abstract

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE: Pediatric brain tumors are the second commonest group of neoplasm in childhood. We reviewed the epidemiology of the relative uncommon forms of childhood brain tumors in a Chinese population. MATERIALS AND METHODS: It is a population based assessment based on prospective collection of childhood pediatric brain tumors data since 1999. Almost all pediatric oncology patients are admitted to 5 public hospitals in our locality. Standard data entry sheet was used and data entry was performed by full time data managers. It was crosschecked with the Hong Kong Cancer Registry which collected all local pathology reports of cancer. RESULTS: From Jan 1999 to Dec 2011 (13 yrs), a total of 415 cases of childhood brain tumors were diagnosed. Astrocytoma (including brainstem), PNET (including medulloblastoma), germ cell tumors, ependymoma all together account for 84% (348/415) of all brain tumors cases. The rest of the tumors were divided into uncommon and rare groups. For the uncommon group, their respective incidence/million children (£15yrs)/year were 0.77 for craniopharyngioma; 0.63 for the 3 tumors including atypical teratoid rhabdoid tumor (ATRT); choroid plexus tumors (CPT) and oligodendroglioma; and 0.56 for ganglioglioma. Craniopharyngioma was commonly presented as headache, visual impairment or stunting growth. ATRT & CPT were mainly found in infant or young children and often presented with signs & symptoms of increase intracranial pressure. Oligodendroglioma and ganglioglioma were more common in older children and frequently presented as seizure. For the rare group, they all have an incidence of CONCLUSIONS: Uncommon brain tumors in our Chinese patient cohort can be further divided into uncommon and rare group. They have unique characteristics and future studies on these brain tumors have to be through an international collaborative effort.