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Toniutti M, Sasso AL, Carai A, Colafati GS, Piccirilli E, Del Baldo G, Mastronuzzi A. Central nervous system tumours in neonates: what should the neonatologist know? Eur J Pediatr 2024; 183:1485-1497. [PMID: 38206395 PMCID: PMC11001680 DOI: 10.1007/s00431-023-05404-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2023] [Revised: 12/15/2023] [Accepted: 12/20/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024]
Abstract
Central nervous system (CNS) tumours in neonates are relatively rare and present differently when compared with those occurring later in childhood in terms of aetiology, clinical features, location, histology and prognosis. The clinical presentation is extremely variable. Even if the most frequent clinical sign is a macrocephaly, there are many other non-specific symptoms associated. The prognosis is usually poor with overall survival of less than 30%. Surgery continues to be the primary treatment for neonatal CNS tumours, aiming for a gross total resection, directly correlated with prognosis and the overall outcome. The chemotherapy is the only adjuvant therapy whereas the radiotherapy is avoided under three years of age because of the severe sequelae. Hence the importance of molecular characterization of these neoplasms in order to improve the accuracy of the diagnosis and identify new therapeutic targets. The aim of this review is to describe the main characteristics of these tumours and the recent advances in their treatment in order to recognize these pathologies in the prenatal period and create a multidisciplinary team providing the best possible treatment while minimising the risk of long-term complications. Neonatologists play a key role in the early detection, diagnostic evaluation, management and supportive care of these neonates. Conclusion: The aim of this review is to describe the main characteristics of these tumours and the recent advances in their treatment in order to ensure the essential knowledge that will help the neonatologist identify them and create a multidisciplinary team providing the best possible treatment while minimising the risk of long-term complications. What is Known: • Neonatal CNS tumours are relatively rare and their early identification is important to identify the best diagnostic-therapeutic management. • Surgery is the main treatment of neonatal CNS tumours. The extent of surgical resection directly correlates with prognosis and outcome. What is New: • Predisposing conditions such as Cancer Predisposition Syndromes must be considered. • Targeted drugs and other therapeutic strategies can be identified through molecular characterization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maristella Toniutti
- Department of Medicine DAME-Division of Pediatrics, University of Udine, Udine, Italy
| | - Annalisa Lo Sasso
- Department of Medicine DAME-Division of Pediatrics, University of Udine, Udine, Italy
| | - Andrea Carai
- Department of Neurosciences, Neurosurgery Unit, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Giovanna Stefania Colafati
- Department of Diagnostic Imaging Oncological Neuroradiology Unit, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Eleonora Piccirilli
- Department of Diagnostic Imaging Oncological Neuroradiology Unit, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
- Department of Neuroscience, Imaging and Clinical Sciences, University "G. d'Annunzio" of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy
| | - Giada Del Baldo
- Department of Pediatric Haematology and Oncology, and Cell and Gene Therapy, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Angela Mastronuzzi
- Department of Pediatric Haematology and Oncology, and Cell and Gene Therapy, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy.
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Enayet A. Brain tumors in the first two years of life. EGYPTIAN JOURNAL OF NEUROSURGERY 2021. [DOI: 10.1186/s41984-021-00130-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Background
Brain tumors in the first years of life are frequently encountered recently with the advancement in neuroimaging, neurosurgery and neuroanethesia where early diagnosis of these lesions became available even before birth. Their management is challenging where the surgery is technically demanding, radiotherapy is omitted in this age because of its late sequelae and chemotherapy role may be beneficial, but it is limited also by its side effects and neurotoxicity. The aim of this article is to review the current literature about the brain tumors in the first two years of life, their diagnosis and treatment.
Main body
Brain tumors in the first two years of life encompass mainly fetal/congenital tumors and infantile tumors. They account for 1.4–18% of cases of pediatric brain tumor, and most of them are diagnosed in the first year of life. The main histopathologies diagnosed are glial tumors, choroid plexus tumors, medulloblastoma and other embryonal tumors, teratoma and ependymoma. They are mainly supratentorial. Large head and bulging fontanelles are the main presenting symptoms and signs secondary to increased intracranial pressure secondary to large tumors or associated hydrocephalus. Prenatal and postnatal ultrasonography represents the initial imaging step in the diagnosis that should be complemented by MRI and CT brain. The main and first line of treatment of infantile brain tumors is surgical excision as the prognosis is directly related to the extent of resection besides surgery offers specimens for histopathological diagnosis and adjuvant chemotherapy is given for residual irresectable cases and malignant tumors with the main aim to delay radiotherapy beyond the age of three years.
Conclusion
Brain tumors in the first two years of life are a challenging group of different histopathological entities with underlying specific molecular characterization and genetic predispositions. They have aggressive behavior and general poor prognosis with limited options of management. Individualized multidisciplinary management for each case is needed, and future studies for therapeutic medications targeting underlying molecular biology may improve their outcome.
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3
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Cornejo P, Feygin T, Vaughn J, Pfeifer CM, Korostyshevska A, Patel M, Bardo DME, Miller J, Goncalves LF. Imaging of fetal brain tumors. Pediatr Radiol 2020; 50:1959-1973. [PMID: 33252762 DOI: 10.1007/s00247-020-04777-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2019] [Revised: 05/13/2020] [Accepted: 07/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Congenital brain tumors, defined as those diagnosed prenatally or within the first 2 months of age, represent less than 2% of pediatric brain tumors. Their location, prevalence and pathophysiology differ from those of tumors that develop later in life. Imaging plays a crucial role in diagnosis, tumor characterization and treatment planning. The most common lesions diagnosed in utero are teratomas, followed by gliomas, choroid plexus papillomas and craniopharyngiomas. In this review, we summarize the pathogenesis, diagnosis, management and prognosis of the most frequent fetal brain tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patricia Cornejo
- Department of Radiology, Phoenix Children's Hospital, 1919 E. Thomas Road, Phoenix, AZ, 85016, USA. .,Department of Neuroradiology, Barrows Neurological Institute, Phoenix, AZ, USA. .,Department of Radiology, University of Arizona College of Medicine, Phoenix, AZ, USA. .,Department of Radiology, Mayo Clinic Arizona, Phoenix, AZ, USA. .,Department of Radiology, Creighton University School of Medicine, Phoenix, AZ, USA.
| | - Tamara Feygin
- Department of Radiology, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Jennifer Vaughn
- Department of Radiology, Phoenix Children's Hospital, 1919 E. Thomas Road, Phoenix, AZ, 85016, USA.,Department of Neuroradiology, Barrows Neurological Institute, Phoenix, AZ, USA.,Department of Radiology, University of Arizona College of Medicine, Phoenix, AZ, USA.,Department of Radiology, Creighton University School of Medicine, Phoenix, AZ, USA
| | - Cory M Pfeifer
- Department of Radiology, UT Southwestern, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Alexandra Korostyshevska
- International Tomography Center of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, Russian Federation
| | - Mittun Patel
- Department of Radiology, Phoenix Children's Hospital, 1919 E. Thomas Road, Phoenix, AZ, 85016, USA.,Department of Radiology, University of Arizona College of Medicine, Phoenix, AZ, USA.,Department of Radiology, Creighton University School of Medicine, Phoenix, AZ, USA
| | - Dianna M E Bardo
- Department of Radiology, Phoenix Children's Hospital, 1919 E. Thomas Road, Phoenix, AZ, 85016, USA.,Department of Neuroradiology, Barrows Neurological Institute, Phoenix, AZ, USA.,Department of Radiology, University of Arizona College of Medicine, Phoenix, AZ, USA.,Department of Radiology, Mayo Clinic Arizona, Phoenix, AZ, USA.,Department of Radiology, Creighton University School of Medicine, Phoenix, AZ, USA
| | - Jeffrey Miller
- Department of Radiology, Phoenix Children's Hospital, 1919 E. Thomas Road, Phoenix, AZ, 85016, USA.,Department of Neuroradiology, Barrows Neurological Institute, Phoenix, AZ, USA.,Department of Radiology, University of Arizona College of Medicine, Phoenix, AZ, USA.,Department of Radiology, Mayo Clinic Arizona, Phoenix, AZ, USA.,Department of Radiology, Creighton University School of Medicine, Phoenix, AZ, USA
| | - Luis F Goncalves
- Department of Radiology, Phoenix Children's Hospital, 1919 E. Thomas Road, Phoenix, AZ, 85016, USA.,Department of Radiology, University of Arizona College of Medicine, Phoenix, AZ, USA.,Department of Radiology, Creighton University School of Medicine, Phoenix, AZ, USA
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4
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Feygin T, Khalek N, Moldenhauer JS. Fetal brain, head, and neck tumors: Prenatal imaging and management. Prenat Diagn 2020; 40:1203-1219. [PMID: 32350893 DOI: 10.1002/pd.5722] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2019] [Revised: 02/06/2020] [Accepted: 04/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Fetal tumors represent an infrequent pathology when compared to congenital malformations, although their true incidence may be underestimated. A variety of benign and malignant neoplasms may occur anywhere in the neural axis. Imaging plays an important role in the fetal tumor diagnosis and evaluation of their resultant complications. Discovery of a fetal mass on obstetric ultrasound necessitates further evaluation with prenatal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). New MR sequences and new applications of existing techniques have been successfully implemented in prenatal imaging. A detailed assessment may be performed using a variety of MR. Fetal tumors may be histologically benign or malignant, but their prognosis generally remains poor, especially for intracranial lesions. Unfavorable tumor location or heightened metabolic demands on a developing fetus may result in severe complications and a fatal outcome, even in cases of benign lesions. Nowadays, prenatal treatment focuses mainly on alleviation of secondary complications caused by the tumors. In this article we review congenital tumors of the brain, face, and neck encountered in prenatal life, and discuss diagnostic clues for appropriate diagnosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tamara Feygin
- Department of Radiology, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Nahla Khalek
- The Center for fetal diagnosis and treatment, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Julie S Moldenhauer
- The Center for fetal diagnosis and treatment, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
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Abstract
Significant advances in the field of neonatal imaging has resulted in the generation of large complex data sets of relevant information for routine daily clinical practice, and basic and translational research. The evaluation of this data is a complex task for the neonatal imager who must distinguish normal and incidental findings from clinically significant abnormalities which are often adjunctive data points applicable to clinical evaluation and treatment. This review provides an overview of the imaging manifestations of disease processes commonly encountered in the neonatal brain. Since MRI is currently the highest yield technique for the diagnosis and characterization of the normal and abnormal brain, it is therefore the focus of the majority of this review. When applicable, discussion of some of the pertinent known pathophysiology and neuropathological aspects of disease processes are reviewed.
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Arora N, Ahmad C, Gupta A, Ghonge N, Kaul A. Prenatal Presentation of Medulloepithelioma: Case and Literature Review. Cureus 2019; 11:e5018. [PMID: 31285981 PMCID: PMC6605960 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.5018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Congenital brain tumors (CBTs) are extremely rare and account for only 0.5%-1.9% of all pediatric brain tumors. Medulloepithelioma is one of the rare tumors with an incidence of about 1% among all CBTs with a very dismal prognosis and typically diagnosed at the median age of 24 months. The objective is reporting medulloepithelioma presenting in the intrauterine period with very few prior cases being reported in the prenatal period, and to add to the limited existing literature on medulloepithelioma. We present a rare case of medulloepithelioma referred to us in the antenatal period at 27 weeks and subsequently causing intrauterine fetal demise. Prenatal MRI of the fetal brain and postnatal histopathological findings on autopsy were suggestive of intracranial medulloepithelioma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nidhi Arora
- Fetal Medicine, Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals, Delhi, IND
| | - Chanchal Ahmad
- Fetal Medicine, Madhukar Rainbow Children's Hospital, Delhi, IND
| | - Arpit Gupta
- Neonatology, Metropolitan Hospital Center, New York, USA
| | - Nitin Ghonge
- Radiology, Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals, Delhi, IND
| | - Anita Kaul
- Fetal Medicine, Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals, Delhi, IND
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7
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Bodeliwala S, Kumar V, Singh D. Neonatal Brain Tumors: A Review. J Neonatal Surg 2017; 6:30. [PMID: 28770127 PMCID: PMC5538596 DOI: 10.21699/jns.v6i2.579] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2017] [Accepted: 03/15/2017] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Brain tumors in neonatal age group is uncommon comparing with older children and adults. In older children brain tumors are commonly infratentorial, where as in neonates, they are supratentorial. Though extracranial tumors are commoner in neonates, brain tumors cause 5-20% deaths approximately. We are presenting a review on brain tumors in neonates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaam Bodeliwala
- Department of Neurosurgery, G. B. Pant Institute of Postgraduate Education and Research (GIPMER), New Delhi
| | - Vikas Kumar
- Department of Neurosurgery, G. B. Pant Institute of Postgraduate Education and Research (GIPMER), New Delhi
| | - Daljit Singh
- Department of Neurosurgery, G. B. Pant Institute of Postgraduate Education and Research (GIPMER), New Delhi
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Abstract
Brain tumors can develop in the prenatal and neonatal time periods. Neuroimaging studies are crucial for the early detection of prenatal and neonatal brain tumors. Imaging allows for characterization of morphology, as well as the detection of hydrocephalus, local invasion, and distant spread. The imaging features of the more common neonatal brain tumors, including teratomas, choroid plexus tumors, ATRTs, and neoplasm mimics are described.
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Robles Fradejas M, Gonzalo García I, De Las Casas Quispe AC, Martin García A, García Higuera MI, Rodriguez Minguélez M, Martínez-Guisasola J. Fetal intracranial immature teratoma: presentation of a case and a systematic review of the literature. J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med 2016; 30:1139-1146. [PMID: 27334556 DOI: 10.1080/14767058.2016.1205029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To describe a case diagnosed with intracranial teratoma in week 32 of gestation, as well as review of the literature in order to discern the appropriate treatment method and general prognosis of this anomaly. METHODS A literature search was performed on the prenatal diagnosis of congenital intracranial teratomas in MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane library data bases. Evaluated in this review are parameters such as time of prenatal diagnosis, associated pathology, size of tumors, method of terminating pregnancy, perinatal outcome and histological study of the tumor. RESULTS A total of 49 cases were found, of which 12 were finished gestation, 28 cesarean section was performed and only nine had vaginal delivery. All died in the neonatal period except in three cases with intrauterine death after diagnosis. CONCLUSION As the incidence of intracranial immature teratomas is very low and the prognosis is poor, their prenatal diagnosis and obstetric management present a great challenge for the planning of a follow-up and treatment of the disease in accordance with the preferences of the parents.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - I Gonzalo García
- a Prenatal Diagnosis Unit, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology
| | | | - A Martin García
- a Prenatal Diagnosis Unit, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology
| | | | - M Rodriguez Minguélez
- c Neonatology Unit, Department of Pediatrics Burgos University Hospital , Burgos , Spain
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10
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Congenital Brain Tumor within the First 2 Months of Life. Pediatr Neonatol 2015; 56:369-75. [PMID: 26044848 DOI: 10.1016/j.pedneo.2015.04.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2014] [Revised: 03/10/2015] [Accepted: 04/01/2015] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Congenital brain tumors (CBTs), defined as tumors presenting within 60 days after birth, are extremely rare and account for only 0.5-1.9% of all pediatric brain tumors. Teratoma is the most common type of CBT, although there are many other poorly described forms. Prenatal diagnosis of CBT is often difficult and usually based on clinical characteristics and radiological findings with magnetic resonance imaging and ultrasonography. The prognosis of patients with CBT depends on the histopathological features of the tumor and its location. Even after several investigations have been performed, a clear direction for diagnosis and treatment of fetal intracranial tumors is still lacking. Further studies are thus needed to clarify its clinical characteristics and establish recommendations for management.
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11
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Lin TY, Ebb DH, Boepple PA, Thiele EA, Rincon SP, Mordes DA. Case records of the Massachusetts General Hospital. Case 12-2015. A newborn boy with respiratory distress, lethargy, and hypernatremia. N Engl J Med 2015; 372:1550-62. [PMID: 25875261 DOI: 10.1056/nejmcpc1400837] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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12
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Yu J, Shi WE, Zhao R, Gao X, Li H. Epidemiology of brain tumors in children aged two and under: A 10-year single-institute study. Oncol Lett 2015; 9:1651-1656. [PMID: 25789017 PMCID: PMC4356287 DOI: 10.3892/ol.2015.2943] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2014] [Accepted: 01/22/2015] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The aim of present study was to evaluate the incidence, clinical symptoms, pathological characteristics, surgical treatment strategies and prognosis of brain tumors in children aged two and under. The current study obtained data regarding 32 consecutive infants and young children aged two years and under, who were treated for brain tumors in the Children’s Hospital of Fudan University (Shanghai, China) between 2003 and 2013. The types of tumor, clinical manifestations, location, histological features, applied treatment strategies and outcomes were retrospectively evaluated. The male to female ratio was 1.13:1, and among a total of 32 tumors, 14 (43.8%) were suptratentorial and 18 (56.3%) were infratentorial. Intracranial hypertension was the most common onset symptom, and astrocytoma was the most common tumor type (10 cases; 31.3%), followed by ependymoma (nine cases; 28.1%) and medulloblastoma (six cases; 18.8%). Surgical tumor resection was performed in 20 patients (62.5%), who experienced a mean post-operative survival time of 67.6 months. By contrast, conservative treatment with medications was administered in 12 patients (37.5%), with a mean survival time of 25.3 months. Furthermore, four patients underwent conservative therapy combined with ventriculoperitoneal shunting to relieve intracranial pressure arising from cerebrospinal fluid accumulation, resulting in a mean survival time of 10.5 months. In conclusion, the present study indicates that surgical tumor resection may improve the overall prognosis of infants and young children aged two years and under who presented with brain tumors. In addition, ventriculoperitoneal shunts may facilitate pre- and post-operative improvement in clinical symptoms by relieving intracranial pressure; however, the shunts do not appear to increase long-term survival. Furthermore, high surgical risk is an important prognostic factor in this pediatric patient population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianzhong Yu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Children's Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai 201102, P.R. China
| | - W E Shi
- Department of Neurosurgery, Children's Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai 201102, P.R. China
| | - Rui Zhao
- Department of Neurosurgery, Children's Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai 201102, P.R. China
| | - Xiaofeng Gao
- Department of Neurosurgery, Children's Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai 201102, P.R. China
| | - Hao Li
- Department of Neurosurgery, Children's Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai 201102, P.R. China
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