CHILDHOOD GLIOBLASTOMA IN TUNISIA - A REV IEW OF 24 CASES

Twenty-four pediatric cases of glioblastoma seen over a 13-year period (January 1978-December 1990) were reviewed retrospectively. These cas es represented 9.3% of all the central nervous system tumors seen in c hildren over the same period. The sex incidence was equal and mean age was ten years. Most cases (83%) were located in the brain. Clinical s ymptoms included evidence of increased intracranial pressure (95%), fo cal deficits (68%), and seizures (20%). The diagnosis was suspected on the basis of computed tomography findings and was confirmed by the pa thological study. The tumor was removed surgically in every case. Thre e patients received irradiation and one chemotherapy. The outcome was disappointing: nine patients developed recurrences, after a mean post- surgery interval of two months.