Congenital brain tumors in a series of seven patients

Background: Congenital brain tumors are very rare. We review these tumors in patients younger than 2 months diagnosed in our Department.

Methods: Seven congenital brain tumors were diagnosed during 5 years. Clinical and radiological findings and prognosis were analyzed.

Results: The study included 5 female and two male infants. Two cases were diagnosed antenatally by means of ultrasonography. All patients presented with intracranial hypertension. All neuroimaging studies revealed nonhomogenous tumors with cystic and solid components, except for the case with choroid plexus papilloma (CPP). Hydrocephalus was evident in all of them. Most were infratentorial lesions. There were three teratomas, one primitive neuroectodermal tumor, one ependymoblastoma and one CPP. Six patients were operated on, with one intraoperative death. Two passed away postoperatively with aspiration pneumonia. One patient died due to complications of chemotherapy and another one due to tumor recurrence 1 year after surgery. Only the patient with CPP is alive after 2 years.

Conclusions: Today, the availability of noninvasive imaging procedures such as computerized tomography scan and magnetic resonance imaging has improved the diagnosis of congenital brain tumors. In spite of development in prenatal diagnosis, appropriate pre- and postoperative management, the mortality associated with these tumors still remains high. The final prognosis in these patients is still discouraging despite early surgery and operative and anesthetic improvements. CPP is accompanied by the best prognosis, whereas teratoma and primitive neuroectodermal tumors have the worst prognosis.