A simple method of estimating cerebrospinal fluid pressure during lumbar puncture.

It is often difficult to measure cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) pressure in children. CSF flow through a spinal needle is described by the equation: Flow = pressure/(needle constant x relative viscosity). Thus, CSF flow rate during lumbar puncture can be used to estimate CSF pressure.

Cisplatin, ara-C and etoposide (PAE) in the treatment of recurrent childhood brain tumors.

Sixteen patients with recurrent childhood brain tumors were treated with intravenous cisplatin, cytosine arabinoside and etoposide (PAE), daily for three days every three to four weeks. Objective responses were observed in 6 of 15 evaluable patients and an additional six patients had stable disease for greater than 6 months. The tumor-specific response rate for astrocytoma/glioma was 3 of 7 and for medulloblastoma was 2 of 4.

Efficacy of postoperative chemotherapy using cisplatin plus etoposide in young children with brain tumors.

Neuraxis radiation therapy (RT) for primary intracranial tumors is associated with major late effects if administered to very young children. To control residual tumor and to delay RT, we treated eight young children (median age 6.5 months) with primary central nervous system (CNS) tumors using combination chemotherapy: cisplatin, 20 mg/M2/day plus VP-16, 75 mg/M2/day i.