Publications by authors named "Astrid-K Gnekow"

Introduction: Neurosurgery is considered the mainstay of treatment for pediatric low-grade glioma (LGG); the extent of resection determines subsequent stratification in current treatment protocols. Yet, surgical radicality must be balanced against the risks of complications that may affect long-term quality of life. We investigated whether this consideration impacted surgical resection patterns over time for patients of the German LGG studies.

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Background: The contribution of tumor type, multimodal treatment, and other patient-related factors upon long-term cognitive sequelae in infant brain tumor survivors remains undefined. We add our retrospective analysis of neuropsychological and quality of survival (QoS) outcome data of survivors of atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumors (ATRT) and extracranial malignant rhabdoid tumors of the soft tissues (eMRT) and kidneys (RTK) treated within the same framework. Neuropsychological data from children with ATRT were compared to data from children with non-irradiated low-grade glioma (LGG).

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  • * A study of 59 pediatric NF1 patients revealed that 49 had neurological symptoms, with many showing neurodevelopmental delays, learning difficulties, and specific brain tumors like optic pathway gliomas.
  • * The research highlighted that regular neuropsychological assessments and clinical evaluations are crucial for managing children with NF1, as most of the patients exhibited a range of CNS manifestations.
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  • This study investigates surgical treatment patterns for pediatric low-grade glioma (LGG) using data from the German SIOP-LGG 2004 cohort, focusing on characteristics associated with patient outcomes.
  • Among 1,271 patients analyzed, a considerable number underwent multiple neurosurgeries, with a median age of 8.57 years at first surgery; factors influencing the likelihood of subsequent surgeries included age, tumor type, and completeness of initial resection.
  • While neurosurgery is essential for treating pediatric LGG, nearly 50% of patients still had residual tumor over long-term follow-up, yet many achieved stable disease without needing further interventions.
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Purpose: Examining a cohort of patients suspicious of neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) we compared the revised diagnostic criteria with the previous National Institutes of Health (NIH) diagnostic criteria. We asked whether the refinement improved distinguishing between NF1, Legius syndrome, and constitutional mismatch repair deficiency (CMMRD).

Methods: A database search in the hospital information system of the University Children's Hospital Augsburg between 2017 and 2020 ascertained patients with International Classification of Diseases-10 code Q85.

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Purpose: Expansion of magnetic resonance imaging T2- or T1-tumor lesion volume after radiation therapy (RT) may indicate pseudoprogression (PsPD). The differentiation between true progression and PsPD is a clinical challenge and underinvestigated in pediatric low-grade glioma (LGG). We evaluated radiologic criteria for PsPD after front-line RT and investigated the frequency and duration of PsPD after 3 RT-modalities within the framework of the German pediatric multicenter LGG-studies.

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  • The annual recruitment of pediatric low-grade glioma (LGG) patients in Germany increased significantly from 109 to 278 cases per year over two decades, showing a rise in incidence rates without changing epidemiologic characteristics.
  • A total of 4634 patients were reported from various centers, leading to an increase in LGG's fraction of pediatric CNS tumors from 32% to 51% and incidence rates from 0.94 to 2.12 per 100,000 children.
  • Five-year overall survival rates remained high (96%-98%), and while treatments have evolved with a decline in front-line radiotherapy use, epidemiological and clinical outcomes did not significantly alter during this period.
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Long-term treatment with 6-thioguanine (6-TG) for pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is associated with high rates of hepatic sinusoidal obstruction syndrome (SOS). Nevertheless, current treatment continues to use short-term applications of 6-TG with only sparse information on toxicity. 6-TG is metabolized by thiopurine methyltransferase (TPMT) which underlies clinically relevant genetic polymorphism.

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  • The study analyzed data from 128 pediatric patients with spinal low-grade gliomas to better understand their management and outcomes in clinical trials.
  • The results showed that about 93% of patients survived for at least 10 years, but many experienced disease progression, requiring repeated interventions like surgeries and chemotherapy.
  • Molecular testing identified potential therapeutic targets, indicating that although disease recurrence is common, a combination of treatments can lead to long-term control for many patients.
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Background: Disease and treatment contribute to cognitive late effects following pediatric low-grade glioma (LGG). We analyzed prospectively collected neuropsychological data of German pediatric LGG survivors and focused on the impact of hydrocephalus at diagnosis, neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) status, and extent of surgery.

Methods: We used the Neuropsychological Basic Diagnostic screening tool based on the Cattell-Horn-Carroll model for intelligence and the concept of cross-battery assessment at 2 and 5 years from diagnosis for 316 patients from the German pediatric LGG study and LGG registry (7.

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First-line treatment of pediatric low-grade glioma using surgery, radio- or chemotherapy fails in a relevant proportion of patients. We analyzed efficacy of subsequent surgical and nonsurgical therapies of the German cohort of the SIOP-LGG 2004 study (2004-2012, 1558 registered patients; median age at diagnosis 7.6 years, median observation time 9.

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Reports on pediatric low-grade diffuse glioma WHO-grade II (DG2) suggest an impaired survival rate, but lack conclusive results for genetically defined DG2-entities. We analyzed the natural history, treatment and prognosis of DG2 and investigated which genetically defined sub-entities proved unfavorable for survival. Within the prospectively registered, population-based German/Swiss SIOP-LGG 2004 cohort 100 patients (age 0.

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: Pediatric low-grade glioma [PLGG] is often a chronic progressive disease requiring multiple treatments, i.e. surgery, chemotherapy and irradiation.

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Reports on pediatric low-grade glioma (LGG) of the caudal brainstem are retrospective with heterogeneous cohorts, variable treatments and inconsistent outcome data. We analyzed their natural history and asked whether brainstem location proved unfavorable for survival within the framework of the comprehensive SIOP-LGG 2004 management strategy. Within the prospectively registered, population-based German SIOP-LGG 2004 cohort 116 patients (age 0.

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Low grade gliomas (LGGs) constitute the largest, yet clinically and (molecular-) histologically heterogeneous group of pediatric brain tumors of WHO grades I and II occurring throughout all pediatric age groups and at all central nervous system (CNS) sites. The tumors are characterized by a slow growth rate and may show periods of growth arrest. Around 40% of all LGG patients can be cured by complete neurosurgical resection and are followed by close observation.

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Background: Tectal plate low-grade gliomas (LGGs) most often present with increased intracranial pressure and sometimes as incidental findings from brain imaging. Prognostic factors predicting outcome are largely unknown.

Methods: From 2004 until 2012, 71 patients with tectal plate LGG from Germany and Switzerland were followed within the SIOP-LGG 2004 study.

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A subset of poorly differentiated squamous cell carcinomas, NUT midline carcinomas (NMC) are characterized by a translocation t(15;19)(q13;p13) [ 1 ]. The prognosis is generally dismal [ 2 ] and therapeutic success has been limited to exceptional cases [ 3 ]. We present two cases of pediatric NMC from two different institutions treated according to a multimodal sarcoma approach involving surgery, chemotherapy, and focal radiotherapy.

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Background: The use of chemotherapy to manage newly diagnosed low grade glioma (LGG) was first introduced in the 1980s. One randomised trial has studied two- versus four-drug regimens with a duration of 12 months of treatment after resection.

Methods: Within the European comprehensive treatment strategy for childhood LGG, the International Society of Paediatric Oncology-Low Grade Glioma (SIOP LGG) Committee launched a randomised trial involving 118 institutions and 11 countries to investigate the addition of etoposide (100 mg/m, days 1, 2 & 3) to a four-course induction of vincristine (1.

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Introduction: Pilomyxoid astrocytoma (PMA) is a rare WHO grade II tumor occurring most often in young children. PMA is associated with worse outcome as compared to the pathologically related pilocytic astrocytoma (PA). The radiological differentiation of PMAs from PAs is challenging.

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Background: Children diagnosed with LGG at an age <1 year are reported to have an impaired prognosis in comparison to older patients. Analysis of this subgroup could reveal the necessity to develop risk-adapted treatment approaches.

Procedure: Children <1 year at diagnosis (n = 66, median age 7.

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The Hirntumorstudien (HIT)-LGG-1996 protocol offered a comprehensive treatment strategy for pediatric patients with low-grade glioma (LGG), ie, observation, surgery, adjuvant radiotherapy, and chemotherapy to defer the start of irradiation in young children. In this current study, we sought to determine clinical factors for progression and survival. Between October 1, 1996 and March 31, 2004, 1031 patients were prospectively recruited into an observation arm (n = 668) and a nonsurgical arm stratifying 12 months of vincristine-carboplatin chemotherapy (n = 216) and conventional radiotherapy/brachytherapy (n = 147) in an age-dependent manner.

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Background: We describe demographic data of disseminated childhood low-grade glioma (DLGG) prospectively recruited in the HIT-LGG 1996 study and evaluate the impact of primary chemotherapy (CT) on the outcome of these tumors, which have previously only been described in small and retrospective series.

Patients And Methods: The multicenter study HIT-LGG 1996 accrued 1181 children and adolescents with low-grade glioma. 61 patients (5.

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Pediatric neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF-1) patients are prone to developing low-grade glioma (LGG). The HIT-LGG study 1996 aimed to observe the natural history of pediatric LGG and to postpone irradiation in younger children by using carboplatinum and vincristine in case non-surgical treatment was required. A total of 109 of 1,044 (10.

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