Long-term survival in children under 3 years of age with low-grade astrocytoma.

Objective: The purpose of this study is to analyze clinical aspects and disease-free survival (DFS) in children less than 3 years of age diagnosed with low-grade astrocytoma.

Methods: In a period of 24 years (1980-2004), a total of 43 (5.4%) children were registered with these characteristics. Twenty-three patients had pilocytic astrocytoma, 18 diffused, and 2 mixed. Thirty-one (72.1%) children had incomplete surgical tumor resection and 12 (27.9%) had a complete tumor resection. Twelve (27.9%) patients had cranial radiotherapy and 17 (39.5%) received chemotherapy. Overall survival was recorded in 23 (53%). DFS was 50% at 250 months of follow-up for the whole group. DFS for the supratentorial group was 60% at 250 months, whereas, for the infratentorial, it was 22% at 120 months (p = 0.008).

Conclusion: The only favorable prognostic pattern was the supratentorial presentation. Radiotherapy and chemotherapy did not alter the outcome.