Epidemiological, Clinical, and Pathological Analysis of Children with Central Nervous System Neoplasms Treated with Radiotherapy at the National Cancer Institute

Abstract

Introduction: Central nervous system neoplasms account for 21% of pediatric cancer cases and are the leading cause of death in this population in developed countries. Advances in neuroimaging have improved diagnosis, and combination therapies have ensured the cure with greater neurological preservation. Surgery is the primary treatment, often combined with radiation therapy and chemotherapy. Objective: To describe socioeconomic findings, signs and symptoms, and histological aspects of pediatric brain tumors treated with radiation therapy. Method: A cross-sectional and descriptive study was conducted with 257 children and adolescents utilizing medical records with central nervous system neoplasms treated with radiotherapy at the National Cancer Institute, Rio de Janeiro, from 2012 to 2020. The variables were divided into sociodemographic, clinical, and pathological categories. Results: White male children were the most prevalent, with a median age at diagnosis of 7.5 years and at radiotherapy, of 8.0 years. The majority had their own home with basic infrastructure and family income of up to one minimum wage. The most common symptoms were headache, vomiting, and gait disorders, varying according to tumor location and child’s age. Radiation therapy was used in 64% of patients, mainly for medulloblastoma, brainstem tumors, and anaplastic ependymoma. Conclusion: Specific studies on children and adolescents with brain neoplasms treated with radiotherapy are rare in the literature. When compared with the general population, they present similar sociodemographic and clinical profiles, with remarkable differences only in the frequency of tumor types.