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Kehoe K, Sivaguru H, Coulter I, Cowie C. Delay in the diagnosis of paediatric brain tumours: a systematic review. Childs Nerv Syst 2023; 39:2053-2063. [PMID: 37336792 DOI: 10.1007/s00381-023-06022-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2023] [Accepted: 06/09/2023] [Indexed: 06/21/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE A delay in obtaining a diagnosis has been associated with inferior outcomes across several cancer types, including paediatric brain tumours. However, no clear evidence exists in this population. We aimed to quantify the reported pre-diagnostic symptom interval (PSI) as the time from onset of first symptoms to diagnosis in the literature, in addition to evaluating the relationship between delay and outcomes, including survival. METHODS A systematic review of the literature was performed in accordance with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. MEDLINE, Wiley Online Library, Web of Science and EMBASE databases were searched. We considered all sources published between 1st January 2010 and 5th November 2022. Children and adolescents aged under 21 years, with new symptomatic primary brain tumour diagnoses, were included. RESULTS Of 3123 studies identified, 11 were included for analysis. Owing to study heterogeneity, a quantitative meta-analysis was not feasible; however, a narrative synthesis was performed. The median reported PSI varied widely, ranging between 28 and 760.8 days. We failed to identify a significant association between prolonged PSI and inferior overall survival. Few factors were consistently associated with prolonged PSI, amongst them only tumour grade and patient age. CONCLUSION Delayed diagnosis of paediatric brain tumours was not associated with inferior survival within this review. This 'waiting time' paradox appears to result from several confounding factors including tumour biology, patient population and key systematic factors that were inconsistently reported. Diagnostic interval clearly presents a complex variable, reflected further by disparity in the reporting of delay within the literature. Ultimately diagnostic interval is unlikely to provide a meaningful representation for all tumour types and should not detract from sharp clinical acumen and prompt diagnosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristy Kehoe
- Department of Neurosurgery, Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK.
| | - Hansini Sivaguru
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Royal Free Hospital, London, UK
| | - Ian Coulter
- Department of Neurosurgery, Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK
| | - Christopher Cowie
- Department of Neurosurgery, Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK
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Liu SJ, Aw NMY, Lim MJR, Tew Seow W, Low DCY, Kimpo MS, Ee Kar Tan E, Tsai Yeo T, Low SYY, Nga VDW. Paediatric brain tumours in Singapore: A 15-year epidemiological and outcome study. J Clin Neurosci 2022; 101:154-161. [PMID: 35597064 DOI: 10.1016/j.jocn.2022.05.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2021] [Revised: 04/06/2022] [Accepted: 05/08/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Paediatric brain tumours (PBTs) are the most common solid tumours in children. Previous publications reflect variations in incidence rates and frequency of histological types in different global populations. However, there are limited studies on the epidemiology of PBTs in Singapore. This study aims to summarise the epidemiology of paediatric brain tumours managed in Singapore. This is an ethics-approved retrospective study of all patients below 19 years old diagnosed with PBTs managed by Singapore's 2 tertiary paediatric neurosurgical centres, KK Women's and Children's Hospital (KKH) and the National University Hospital (NUH) over a 15-year period from 01 January 2002 to 31 December 2017. Data collected was analysed for age, gender, tumour characteristics, presenting complaints, location, treatment modalities, 1-year and 5-year overall survival (OS). A total of 396 patients were included. The mean age of diagnosis was 7.05 years (0.25-18; ± 4.83) and male-to-female ratio was 1.41:1. Top histological groups were astrocytic (30.6%), embryonal (26.0%), germ cell (11.1%), ependymoma (30, 7.58%) and craniopharyngioma (27, 6.82%). Outcomes included recurrence rate (31.2%), 1-year OS (89.5%) and 5-year OS (72.2%). Poorer 5-year OS were noted in embryonal tumours (47.0%; p < 0.001) and ependymoma (50.0%; p = 0.0074) patients. Of note, the following cohorts also had poorer OS at 5 years: supratentorial tumours (76.2%; p = 0.0426), radiotherapy (67.4%; p = 0.0467) and surgery (74.9%, HR; p < 0.001). Overall, our data reflects patient demographics, presenting complaints, treatment modalities and survival outcomes, that are comparable to other international paediatric neurosurgical centres.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sherry J Liu
- Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, National University Health System, Singapore
| | - Natalie M Y Aw
- Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, 10 Medical Dr, 117597, Singapore
| | - Mervyn J R Lim
- Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, National University Health System, Singapore
| | - Wan Tew Seow
- Neurosurgical Service, KK Women's and Children's Hospital, 100 Bukit Timah Road, 229899, Singapore; Department of Neurosurgery, National Neuroscience Institute, Singapore; SingHealth Duke-NUS Neuroscience Academic Clinical Program, Singapore, 11 Jalan Tan Tock Seng, 308433, Singapore
| | - David C Y Low
- Neurosurgical Service, KK Women's and Children's Hospital, 100 Bukit Timah Road, 229899, Singapore; Department of Neurosurgery, National Neuroscience Institute, Singapore; SingHealth Duke-NUS Neuroscience Academic Clinical Program, Singapore, 11 Jalan Tan Tock Seng, 308433, Singapore
| | - Miriam S Kimpo
- Division of Paediatric Oncology, Department of Paediatrics, National University Health System, 5 Lower Kent Ridge Rd, 119074, Singapore
| | - Enrica Ee Kar Tan
- Paediatric Haematology/Oncology Service, KK Women's and Children's Hospital, 100 Bukit Timah Road, 229899, Singapore
| | - Tseng Tsai Yeo
- Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, National University Health System, Singapore
| | - Sharon Y Y Low
- Neurosurgical Service, KK Women's and Children's Hospital, 100 Bukit Timah Road, 229899, Singapore; Department of Neurosurgery, National Neuroscience Institute, Singapore; SingHealth Duke-NUS Neuroscience Academic Clinical Program, Singapore, 11 Jalan Tan Tock Seng, 308433, Singapore.
| | - Vincent D W Nga
- Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, National University Health System, Singapore
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Güemes Hidalgo M, Muñoz Calvo MT, Fuente Blanco L, Villalba Castaño C, Martos Moreno GA, Argente J. [Endocrinological outcome in children and adolescents survivors of central nervous system tumours after a 5 year follow-up]. An Pediatr (Barc) 2013; 80:357-64. [PMID: 24103246 DOI: 10.1016/j.anpedi.2013.06.039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2013] [Accepted: 06/26/2013] [Indexed: 10/26/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Given the successful increase in survival rates with the current treatments for central nervous system tumours (CNST), survivors are at high risk for late adverse effects. PURPOSE To evaluate the endocrine sequelae in children with CNST according to the type of tumour and treatment received. PATIENTS AND METHODS A retrospective review of the clinical features, auxology, hormone determinations and imaging findings of 38 patients (36.8% females, 63.2% males) with CNST, with a minimum of 5 years follow-up, was performed. RESULTS The mean age at diagnosis was 5.34 ± 3.07 years, with 76.3% of the patients having at least one hormone deficiency, of which growth hormone (GH) (73.7% of all patients) was the most prevalent, followed by thyrotropin (TSH) (68.4%), corticotropin (31.6%), antidiuretic hormone (28.9%), and gonadotropin (LH/FSH) (21.1%) deficiency. Precocious puberty was found in 21.1% of patients. After 5 years of follow-up, 28.9% were obese. Craniopharyngioma had more hormone deficiencies, obesity and recurrence rates. The most frequently administered treatment was surgery + chemotherapy + radiotherapy, in 47.4% of the patients. Mean final height (20 patients) was -1.2 1.6 SDS, with a mean difference of -0.53 SDS regarding their target height. CONCLUSIONS 1) The type of tumour and treatment received influence the endocrinological sequelae. 2) The most frequent hormone deficiencies in all types of CNST, regardless of the treatment received, were GH and TSH. 3) Early diagnosis and prompt intervention of endocrine dysfunction can reduce the morbidity and improve quality of life over the long term.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Güemes Hidalgo
- Servicio de Endocrinología, Hospital Infantil Universitario Niño Jesús, Madrid, España
| | - M T Muñoz Calvo
- Servicio de Endocrinología, Hospital Infantil Universitario Niño Jesús, Madrid, España; Servicio de Pediatría, Hospital Infantil Universitario Niño Jesús, Madrid, España; Departamento de Pediatría, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, España; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBERobn), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, España.
| | - L Fuente Blanco
- Servicio de Endocrinología, Hospital Infantil Universitario Niño Jesús, Madrid, España
| | - C Villalba Castaño
- Servicio de Endocrinología, Hospital Infantil Universitario Niño Jesús, Madrid, España
| | - G A Martos Moreno
- Servicio de Endocrinología, Hospital Infantil Universitario Niño Jesús, Madrid, España; Servicio de Pediatría, Hospital Infantil Universitario Niño Jesús, Madrid, España; Departamento de Pediatría, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, España; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBERobn), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, España
| | - J Argente
- Servicio de Endocrinología, Hospital Infantil Universitario Niño Jesús, Madrid, España; Servicio de Pediatría, Hospital Infantil Universitario Niño Jesús, Madrid, España; Departamento de Pediatría, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, España; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBERobn), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, España
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