[Optic chiasm glioma in children: Endocrine disorders in 14 cases]

Abstract

Background and objectives: To describe the frequency of endocrine disorders in children with optic chiasm glioma and analyze related factors.

Patients and methods: Review of medical records by collecting sex, age, history of neurofibromatosis, clinical presentation, treatment of tumour, and presence of endocrine abnormalities. Statistical tests Wilcoxon and Fisher.

Results: 14 patients (6 female) with age at diagnosis of 0.5 to 7.0 years (mean±standard deviation: 2.97±2.32) and follow-up of 10.64±3.30 years (range 6.0 to 16.0). 12/14 presented endocrinopathy at follow-up: 8 precocious puberty, 5 hypopituitarism, and 5 obesity. The onset of deficits was related to the neuroophthalmological symptoms under the age of five (P=.02)and treatment of the tumour was required.(P=.03).

Conclusions: Children with optic chiasm gliomas may present endocrine disorders from the time of diagnosis of the tumor and, in particular as they develop on. The most common of these is precocious puberty. Pituitary deficits are associated with more aggressive tumours (those presenting with neuroophthalmological signs and symptoms before the age of five and requiring treatment).

Keywords: Childhood; Childhood optic nerve glioma; Glioma óptico de los niños; Hipopituitarismo; Hypopituitarism; Hypothalamic neoplasms; Neoplasias hipotalámicas; Niños; Precocious puberty; Pubertad precoz.