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Thalamic gliomas in children: an extensive clinical, neuroradiological and pathological study of 14 cases

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Abstract

Object

Thalamic tumors represent only 1 to 5% of brain neoplasms but frequently affect children. However, pediatric series are rare and go back to several years in spite of recent advances in the neuroradiological, pathological, and molecular fields.

Methods

We report a series of 14 pediatric thalamic gliomas with clinical, neuroradiological, and pathological studies including p53 immunostaining in 11 cases and 1p19q status in three cases.

Results

Our series included five pilocytic astrocytomas, seven oligodendrogliomas, and two glioblastomas. Pilocytic astrocytomas were characterized by strong contrast enhancement, lack of p53 expression, and excellent prognosis. Oligodendrogliomas frequently demonstrated an aspect of unilateral thalamic enlargement lacking or with slight contrast enhancement. Some of them expressed p53 or demonstrated 1p loss. Anaplastic oligodendrogliomas and glioblastomas displayed a poor outcome, with a mean survival of 8 months after surgery.

Conclusion

Our series of pediatric thalamic gliomas clearly distinguishes pilocytic astrocytomas from anaplastic oligodendrogliomas regarding neuroimaging, pathology, and prognosis.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pathology and Neuropathology, Hôpital de la Timone, 264 rue Saint-Pierre, 13385, Marseille Cedex 05, France

    Carla Fernandez, André Maues de Paula, Corinne Bouvier-Labit & Dominique Figarella-Branger

  2. Laboratoire de Biopathologie de l’Adhésion et de la Signalisation, Faculté de Médecine, 27, boulevard Jean Moulin, 13385, Marseille Cedex 05, France

    Carole Colin, Corinne Bouvier-Labit & Dominique Figarella-Branger

  3. Department of Cytogenetics, Hôpital de la Timone, 264 rue Saint-Pierre, 13385, Marseille Cedex 05, France

    Benoît Quilichini

  4. Department of Neuroradiology, Hôpital de la Timone, 264 rue Saint-Pierre, 13385, Marseille Cedex 05, France

    Nadine Girard

  5. Department of Pediatric Neurosurgery, Hôpital d’Enfants de la Timone, 264 rue Saint-Pierre, 13385, Marseille Cedex 05, France

    Didier Scavarda & Gabriel Lena

Authors
  1. Carla Fernandez
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  2. André Maues de Paula
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  3. Carole Colin
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  4. Benoît Quilichini
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  5. Corinne Bouvier-Labit
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  6. Nadine Girard
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  7. Didier Scavarda
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  8. Gabriel Lena
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  9. Dominique Figarella-Branger
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Dominique Figarella-Branger.

Additional information

C. Fernandez and A. Maues de Paula have contributed equally to this work.

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Fernandez, C., Maues de Paula, A., Colin, C. et al. Thalamic gliomas in children: an extensive clinical, neuroradiological and pathological study of 14 cases. Childs Nerv Syst 22, 1603–1610 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00381-006-0184-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00381-006-0184-6

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