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. 2023 Jan;161(1):77-84.
doi: 10.1007/s11060-022-04208-z. Epub 2023 Jan 2.

Long term quality of life outcomes following surgical resection alone for benign paediatric intracranial tumours

Siddhant Kumar  1   2 , Abdurrahman I Islim  3   4 , Richard Moon  5 , Christopher P Millward  6   7 , Dawn Hennigan  8 , Antonia Thorpe  6 , Mitchell Foster  6 , Barry Pizer  9 , Conor L Mallucci  8 , Michael D Jenkinson  6   7
Affiliations

Long term quality of life outcomes following surgical resection alone for benign paediatric intracranial tumours

Siddhant Kumar et al. J Neurooncol. 2023 Jan.

Abstract

Purpose: Survivors of paediatric intracranial tumours are at increased risk of psychosocial, neuro-developmental, and functional impairment. This study aimed to evaluate long-term health-related quality-of-life (HRQOL) outcomes in patients with benign paediatric brain tumours treated curatively with surgical resection alone.

Methodology: This was a cross-sectional study of patients with benign paediatric intracranial tumours managed with surgery alone between 2000 and 2015. Eligible patients with a minimum of 5-years follow-up after surgery were identified. Validated health-related quality of life (HRQOL) questionnaires were administered: SF-36, QLQ-BN20, QLQ-C30 and PedsQL™.

Results: Twenty-three patients participated (median age at surgery 13 years; range 1-18; 12 male). The most common diagnosis was pilocytic astrocytoma (n = 15). Median time from surgery to participation was 11 years(range 6-19). Fourteen patients achieved A-level qualifications and two obtained an undergraduate degree. Twelve patients were employed, eight were studying and three were unemployed or volunteering. HRQOL outcomes demonstrated significant limitation from social functioning (p = 0.03) and cognitive functioning (p = 0.023) compared to the general population. Patients also experienced higher rates of loss of appetite (p = 0.009) and nausea and vomiting (p = 0.031). Ten patients were under transitional teenager and young-adult (TYA) clinic follow-up. TYA patients achieved higher levels of education (p = 0.014), were more likely to hold a driver's license (p = 0.041) compared to patients not followed-up through these services.

Conclusions: Childhood brain-tumour survivors have a greater risk of developing psychological, neuro-cognitive and physical impairment. Early comprehensive assessment, specialist healthcare and TYA services are vital to support these patients.

Keywords: Benign; Brain tumours; Childood; Quality of life; Surgery; Survivors.

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