Quality of life in children survivors of posterior fossa tumors

We have created a numerical scale in order to measure the Quality of Life in children survivors of posterior fossa tumors. We evaluated the long-term sequelae in 39 patients seen during a 20 year period, with a medium follow-up of 9 years. They were 25 Cerebelar Astrocytoma (CA), 6 Medulloblastoma (MDB), 5 Brain-Stem Glioma (BSG) and 3 Ependymoma of IV ventricle (EPD). Sixty-six per cent of children showed neurologic and/or visual sequelae (Bloom's levels I-II in 66%). Psychointellectual dysfunctions were identified in 44%, with an IQ<90 in 39%. Endocrine disorders were found in 26%. Quality of Life (QL) was measured with our Scale, finding that 19 patients (49%) have a good or acceptable QL, eight (20%) a moderate QL that can be acceptable with adequate rehabilitation, and the remaining 12 (36%) a bad QL that can be improved slightly. Unfavorable outcomes were related to age less than 4 years at diagnosis, type of tumor (MDB, EPD, BSG), incomplete tumoral resection, and use of radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy. We consider that our scale is complete and adequate to measure the QL of children survivors of CNS tumors. (Author) 55 refs