Unusual dissemination patterns of low-grade astrocytomas in childhood.

Low-grade astrocytomas are intracerebral lesions of relatively high frequency in the under-18 pediatric population. They often present indolent behaviour, and complete surgical resection is the choice treatment. In cases where the surgery is not possible, chemotherapy and radiotherapy may be used.

A proposed score for predicting severe infection complications in children with chemotherapy-induced febrile neutropenia.

Background: Febrile neutropenia (FN) is one of most common complications in patients with cancer during chemotherapy. Identifying factors associated with severe infectious complications (SICs) at time of admission for fever and neutropenia is necessary for better treatment.

Procedure: We revised all medical charts of patients under 18 years old who developed a first episode of FN present from January 2000 to December 2003.

[Primary intracranial germ cell tumors in children: evaluation of fourteen cases].

This study evaluates the diagnosis, therapy and survival of 14 patients with primary intracranial germ cell tumors during the period from 1991 to 2001. There were 11 males and 3 females. Mean age was 12.

[A large atypical meningioma in childhood: case report].

Meningiomas are rare in children and a small number of cases has been published. They are tumors typically indolent, but sometimes they show an extreme aggressive behavior. The gold standard of treatment is surgery with total remove of tumor.

[Spinal cord metastatic glioblastoma multiforme of childhood: case report].

We report the case of an eleven years-old girl with a right temporo-parietal glioblastoma multiforme. The tumor was totally resected on neurosurgery, and cranial radiotherapy was applied at next. The tumor recurred three months later, far from primary site, in the caudal portion of the spinal canal.