Glioblastoma multiforme in children: experience at Hospital Infantil de Mexico Federico Gomez

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate clinical evolution of pediatric patients diagnosed with glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) at Hospital Infantil de México Federico Gómez.

Methods: Cases of patients treated from January to May, 2007, were included in this study. Variables analyzed were: age, diagnosis, size of tumor, histopathological description, degree of resection, time of stay in hospital, complications and outcome using Pearson's chi-squared test and logistic regression.

Conclusion: Sixteen patients were identified. Mean age of presentation was 8.8. An increased frequency of complications was observed in younger patients and longer survival rates in patients with greater resections; main mode of presentation was directly related to intracranial hypertension; size of tumor was not related to evolution or outcome. Modern histological classifications especially designed for children are deemed necessary to accurately diagnose GBM.