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Wieczorek A, Stefanowicz J, Hennig M, Adamkiewicz-Drozynska E, Stypinska M, Dembowska-Baginska B, Gamrot Z, Woszczyk M, Geisler J, Szczepanski T, Skoczen S, Ussowicz M, Pogorzala M, Janczar S, Balwierz W. Isolated central nervous system relapses in patients with high-risk neuroblastoma -clinical presentation and prognosis: experience of the Polish Paediatric Solid Tumours Study Group. BMC Cancer 2022; 22:701. [PMID: 35752779 PMCID: PMC9233790 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-022-09776-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2021] [Accepted: 06/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Although isolated central nervous system (CNS) relapses are rare, they may become a serious clinical problem in intensively treated patients with high-risk neuroblastoma (NBL). The aim of this study is the presentation and assessment of the incidence and clinical course of isolated CNS relapses. Retrospective analysis involved 848 NBL patients treated from 2001 to 2019 at 8 centres of the Polish Paediatric Solid Tumours Study Group (PPSTSG). Group characteristics at diagnosis, treatment and patterns of relapse were analysed. Observation was completed in December 2020. We analysed 286 high risk patients, including 16 infants. Isolated CNS relapse, defined as the presence of a tumour in brain parenchyma or leptomeningeal involvement, was found in 13 patients (4.5%; 8.4% of all relapses), all of whom were stage 4 at diagnosis. Isolated CNS relapses seem to be more common in young patients with stage 4 MYCN amplified NBL, and in this group they may occur early during first line therapy. The only or the first symptom may be bleeding into the CNS, especially in younger children, even without a clear relapse picture on imaging, or the relapse may be clinically asymptomatic and found during routine screening. Although the incidence of isolated CNS relapses is not statistically significantly higher in patients after immunotherapy, their occurrence should be carefully monitored, especially in intensively treated infants, with potential disruption of the brain-blood barrier.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aleksandra Wieczorek
- Department of Paediatric Oncology and Haematology, Faculty of Medicine, Jagiellonian University, Medical College, Krakow, Poland.
| | - Joanna Stefanowicz
- Department of Paediatrics, Haematology and Oncology, Medical University of Gdansk, Gdansk, Poland
| | - Marcin Hennig
- Department of Paediatrics, Haematology and Oncology, Medical University of Gdansk, Gdansk, Poland
| | | | - Marzena Stypinska
- Department of Oncology, The Children Memorial Health Institute in Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | | | - Zuzanna Gamrot
- Unit of Paediatric Haematology and Oncology, City Hospital, Chorzow, Poland
| | - Mariola Woszczyk
- Unit of Paediatric Haematology and Oncology, City Hospital, Chorzow, Poland
| | - Julia Geisler
- Department of Paediatric Haematology and Oncology, Medical University of Silesia, Zabrze, Poland
| | - Tomasz Szczepanski
- Department of Paediatric Haematology and Oncology, Medical University of Silesia, Zabrze, Poland
| | - Szymon Skoczen
- Department of Paediatric Oncology and Haematology, Faculty of Medicine, Jagiellonian University, Medical College, Krakow, Poland
| | - Marek Ussowicz
- Department and Clinic of Paediatric Oncology, Haematology and Bone Marrow Transplantation, Wroclaw Medical University, Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Monika Pogorzala
- Paediatric Haematology and Oncology, Collegium Medicum, Nicolaus Copernicus University, Bydgoszcz, Poland
| | - Szymon Janczar
- Department of Paediatrics, Oncology and Haematology, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland
| | - Walentyna Balwierz
- Department of Paediatric Oncology and Haematology, Faculty of Medicine, Jagiellonian University, Medical College, Krakow, Poland
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Nelson S, Taylor LP. Headaches in brain tumor patients: primary or secondary? Headache 2016; 54:776-85. [PMID: 24697234 DOI: 10.1111/head.12326] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/30/2014] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Headaches occur commonly in all patients, including those who have brain tumors. It has been argued that there is a classic "brain tumor headache type" - defined by the International Headache Society as one that is localized, progressive, worse in the morning, aggravated by coughing or bending forward, develops in temporal and often spatial relation to the neoplasm, and resolves within 7 days of surgical removal or treatment with corticosteroids. METHODS Using the search terms "headache and brain tumors," "intracranial neoplasms and headache," and "facial pain and brain tumors," we reviewed the literature from the past 20 years on brain tumor-associated headache and reflected upon the International Classification of Headache Disorders-3 (ICHD-3). In a separate, complementary paper, the proposed mechanisms of brain tumor headache are reviewed. RESULTS We discuss multiple clinical presentations of brain tumor headaches, present the ICHD-3 diagnostic criteria for each type of headache, and then apply our findings to the ICHD-3. Our primary and major finding was that brain tumor headaches can present similarly to primary headaches in those with a predisposition to headaches, suggesting that following ICHD-3 criteria could cause a clinician to overlook a headache caused by a brain tumor. We further find that some types of headaches are not explicitly discussed in the ICHD-3 and also propose that the International Headache Society formally define SMART (Stroke-like Migraine Attacks after Radiation Therapy) syndrome given the increasing amount of literature on this disorder. CONCLUSION Our literature review revealed that brain tumor headache uncommonly presents with classic brain tumor headache characteristics and often satisfies criteria for a primary headache category such as migraine or tension-type. Thus, clinicians may miss headaches due to brain tumors in following ICHD-3 criteria, and the distinction between primary and secondary headache disorders may not be so clear-cut.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Nelson
- Departments of Neurology, Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA
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