Common Characteristics of Rare Pediatric Brain Tumors Identified

Summary: Researchers have identified specific characteristics of vestibular schwannomas in children. While children have similar symptoms of the brain tumors as experienced by adults, the tumor size was typically larger in pediatric patients at the time of diagnosis.

Source: Loyola University Health System

Vestibular schwannomas, more commonly known as acoustic neuromas, are benign brain tumors that develop on the balance (vestibular) and hearing or auditory nerves leading from the inner ear to the brain. These tumors are rare in children, and as a result, there is little consensus on common symptoms, tumor size, treatment, outcomes and recurrence rates for acoustic neuroma in pediatric patients.

In a new study, “Pediatric vestibular schwannomas: case series and a systematic review with meta-analysis,” appearing in the Journal of Neurosurgery, researchers at Loyola University Medical Center and Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine performed a retrospective review of the diagnosis, treatment and outcomes of 15 patients (21 years of age or younger) with unilateral vestibular schwannomas, without neurofibromatosis type 2 (a genetic disorder that causes noncancerous tumor growth in the nervous system), who underwent surgery at Loyola University Medical Center between 1997 and 2019. The study authors also reviewed existing literature on this type of tumor in pediatric patients.

Overall, the review found that pediatric patients had similar symptoms to those of adult patients with acoustic neuromas; however, the tumor size was typically larger in the pediatric patients at the time of diagnosis, and symptoms of mass effect (secondary effects caused by the tumor) were more common. While some children with small tumors can be successfully treated with surgery only, residual tumors in pediatric patients were found to have a higher rate of regrowth than those in adults.

This shows the outline of a head and neurons
At the time of surgery, the mean tumor size was 3.3 centimeters, with four patients presenting with 1-centimeter tumors. Image is in the public domain.

“This research provides a valuable baseline from which to assess and treat future pediatric patients presenting with symptoms associated with acoustic neuromas,” said lead study author Douglas E. Anderson, MD, chair, Loyola Medicine and Loyola University Chicago Stritch School Department of Neurological Surgery. “Because of the tumor size in children at presentation, appropriate treatments should reflect the risk for tumor regrowth.”

The study identified common symptoms in pediatric acoustic neuroma patients: hearing loss in 87% of patients; headache, 40%; vertigo, 33%; ataxia (degenerative disease of the nervous system), 33%; and tinnitus (ringing in the ear), 33%. At the time of surgery, the mean tumor size was 3.3 centimeters, with four patients presenting with 1-centimeter tumors. Four patients had residual tumor mass left following surgery, with three (75%) having significant regrowth requiring further treatment. The literature review identified another 81 patients from 26 studies, with an average age of 12.1 (range 6-21) and an average tumor size of 4.1 centimeters.

About this brain cancer research article

Source:
Loyola University Health System
Media Contacts:
Sheryl Cash – Loyola University Health System
Image Source:
The image is in the public domain.

Original Research: Closed access
“Pediatric vestibular schwannomas: case series and a systematic review with meta-analysis”. by Douglas E. Anderson et al. Journal of Neurosurgery.


Abstract

Pediatric vestibular schwannomas: case series and a systematic review with meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE
Sporadic unilateral vestibular schwannomas are rare in the pediatric population. Little has been reported in the literature on the presentation, tumor size, response to surgical treatment, and recurrence rates in these younger patients. The authors’ goal was to describe their institutional experience with pediatric sporadic vestibular schwannomas and to conduct a meta-analysis of the existing literature to provide further insight into the presentation, tumor characteristics, and surgical outcomes for these rare tumors to help direct future treatment strategies.

METHODS
The authors performed a retrospective review of all patients 21 years of age or younger with unilateral vestibular schwannomas and without neurofibromatosis type 2 who underwent resection by the senior authors between 1997 and 2019. A systematic review of the literature and meta-analysis was also performed by entering the search terms “pediatric” and “vestibular schwannoma” or “acoustic neuroma,” as well as “sporadic” into PubMed. Presentation, treatment, clinical outcomes, and follow-up were analyzed.

RESULTS
Fifteen patients were identified at the authors’ institution, ranging in age from 12 to 21 years (mean 16.5 years). Common presenting symptoms included hearing loss (87%), headache (40%), vertigo (33%), ataxia (33%), and tinnitus (33%). At the time of surgery, the mean tumor size was 3.4 cm, with four 1-cm tumors. Four patients had residual tumor following their first surgery, 3 (75%) of whom had significant radiographic regrowth that required further treatment. The literature review identified an additional 81 patients from 26 studies with patient-specific clinical data available for analysis. This resulted in a total of 96 reported patients with an overall average age at diagnosis of 12.1 years (range 6–21 years) and an average tumor size of 4.1 cm.

CONCLUSIONS
Pediatric vestibular schwannomas present similarly to those in adults, although symptoms of mass effect are more common, as these tumors tend to be larger at diagnosis. Some children are found to have small tumors and can be successfully treated surgically. Residual tumors in pediatric patients were found to have a higher rate of regrowth than those in their adult counterparts.

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