Gangliogliomas in childhood

✍ Scribed by Nick M. Smith; Mary M. Carli; Ahmed Hanieh; Bruce Clark; Anthony J. Bourne; Roger W. Byard

• Publisher: Springer
• Year: 1992
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 843 KB
• Volume: 8
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0256-7040
• DOI: 10.1007/bf00300792

✦ Synopsis

Ganglioglioma is a tumour of the central nervous system composed of an admixture of dysplastic nerve cells resembling pleomorphic ganglion cells, and glial elements, which may be astrocytic and/or oligodendroglial in appearance. A series of 12 patients aged between 9 months and 15 years 9 months, all of whom had suffered epilepsy refractory to medical treatment for up to 8 years, is presented. Computed tomographic and magnetic resonance scans were of prime use in localisation of the tumours. Calcification was noted preoperatively in 4 of 12 cases. The majority of patients obtained at least partial relief from symptoms after complete or partial resection. Histologically, 11 of the tumours included grade 1 astrocytic elements and the remaining one exhibited grade 2 areas. The diagnosis of ganglioglioma should be suspected in a child with refractory, long-standing epilepsy. Prognosis of these tumours is determined by the astrocytic component; if this is of low grade, surgical excision may result in marked symptomatic improvement or cure.