Clinical features, treatment modalities, and survival rates of pediatric central nervous system tumors: A retrospective analysis from a single center (2000-2020).

Abstract

Pediatric central nervous system (CNS) tumors represent 20-25% of childhood malignancies, with 35-40 new cases annually in Slovakia. Despite treatment advances, high mortality and poor quality of life in a lot of cases persist. This study assesses the clinical features, treatment modalities, and survival rates of pediatric CNS tumor patients in the single largest center in Slovakia. A retrospective analysis was conducted on pediatric CNS tumors from January 1, 2000, to December 31, 2020, at the Department of Pediatric Oncology and Hematology at the National Institute of Children's Diseases in Bratislava, Slovakia. Among 397 patients (242 males, 155 females), the most common histological types were astrocytomas (42.8%), followed by embryonal tumors (18.4%), brain stem tumors (10.3%), and ependymal tumors (8.1%). Tumor locations were supratentorial (48.1%), infratentorial (46.9%), and spinal (4.3%). Surgical interventions included radical excision (30.2%), subtotal/partial excision (41.8%), and biopsy (9.3%). Treatment modalities varied, with 31.2% receiving combined surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy; 27.5% surgery alone; 9.6% surgery with radiotherapy; 7.8% chemotherapy only; and 6.3% having no treatment. By 2020, 74.3% of patients were alive, with a 25.7% mortality rate. This study outlines the characteristics of pediatric CNS tumors in Bratislava, highlighting the need for multidisciplinary national and international collaboration to advance diagnosis and treatment. Our data align with global findings from other centers.