THALAMIC TUMORS IN CHILDREN

Thalamic tumors (TT) merit individual analysis and must not be confuse d with tumors that, while involving the entire thalamus have a differe nt origin. We analyzed 26 patients who fulfilled our criteria of havin g ''strictly'' TT. We examined incidence, clinical features, histology , response to treatment (mainly surgery), recurrence rate, mortality a nd prognosis. We considered that histology and surgical treatment were the most important items related to prognosis. Low-grade tumors (LGT) had a good prognosis, while anaplastic tumors (AT) had a discouraging one; nevertheless both must be operated on. We believe that total rem oval of LGT is curative and total removal of AT, even if it is not cur ative, can extend survival by some months. Radiotherapy and chemothera py seemed to be of little value in our series of TT.