DETERMINATION OF THE MAIN EPIDEMIOLOGICAL FACTORS IN CHILDREN WITH BRAIN TUMOR ADMITTED TO HAZRAT ALI ASGHAR CHILDREN HOSPITAL

Brain tumors are the second common malignancy after leukemia in patients who are under 15 years and their metastatic form is rare in children. This study was undertaken on 100 patients with brain tumor who were admitted to Hazrat Ali Asghar Children Hospital during 1990 to 2000. Through this study, information about type of pathology, treatment and patients’ five-year survival was gathered in order to have better treatment and follow-up. This study was carried out as a cross-sectional survey and the obtained data was analysed via SPSS software. In this survey a questionnaire containing information about age, incidence, pathology type, clinical signs, neurological side effects and the amount of complete recovery was filled. The findings showed that the mean age of patients was 6.22±0.83(female 47%, male 53%) and male/female ratio was 1.12. Pathologically, 47% of the tumors were medulloblastoma, 18% were ependymoma, 9% were cerebellar astrocytoma, 63% inferatentorial, and 33% supratentorial. Headache(50%), nausea and vomiting (54%) were the most frequent clinical symptoms. Focal neurological sings were: hemiparesis(9%), seizure(12%), alteration in personality(10%) and ataxia(22%). 70% of the patients were treated with surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy, 7% were only treated with surgery, 13% with surgery and radiotherapy and 9% with surgery and chemotherapy. Post-treatment side effects in our patients were neurological complications(52%) and five-year survival(15%). For diagnosis of brain tumor CT scan was used in 78% of cases and MRI in 3%.In general, 22% of the patients were expired and only 11% of cases were alive. No information is available about 40% of the patients because of not having any address from them and 27% of the patients have just been under treatment for about 5 years.