Lene Pernes, Linda Sommerfelt, Tryggve Lundar, Finn Wesenberg
Thirty-four females and thirty-four males aged 0-4 years were primarily operated for a brain tumour during the years 2005 through 2011. Twenty-two of the tumours were infratentorial and forty-six were supratentorial. Tumours presented more frequently in the first year of life (n=21), and 19 of these infants had a supratentorial tumour. In the 1-4 years age group (n=47), 27 children had supratentorial tumours. Twenty-three of the tumours were high-grade tumours, PNET (primitive neuroectodermal tumour) and ependymomas being most frequent. Forty-five were lowgrade, mostly being astrocytomas. The clinical presentation was heterogeneous with a wide range of symptoms. Conclusions: Tumours presented more frequently in the first year of life (31%), and 90.5% of these infants had a supratentorial tumour, in comparison to 57% in the age group 1-4 years. Five year overall survival rate was 86,6% in children with low-grade tumours opposed to 61% among children with high-grade tumours. The aim of primary surgery with GTR (gross total resection) was achieved in 36 children leading to 94 % overall survival (OS) after 2-8 years follow up. In the 32 children who had only a partial resection or a biopsy, OS was 66 %.