| Sub-title | |
| Authors | S Attard M Dalmas N Calleja N Galea V Calvagna |
| Abstract | Introduction: CNS tumours comprise approximately 1/5 of all childhood cancers and pose particular management challenges. This study is a retrospective descriptive study of all CNS tumours in Maltese children aged up to 14 years from Jan 1990 to Dec 2004. Methods: Cases were highlighted from the Malta Cancer Registry as well as from case records of the Paediatric Oncology Unit at St Luke's Hospital. The main aims of this study were to look at the the incidence and survival of children with brain tumours in Malta, and to compare these with similar data from other European countries. Results: There were 40 cases during the period encompassing 1990 to 2004. This translates into an incidence rate of 34.1 per million child years. Boys slightly outnumbered girls. Histology was available for 33 cases, and the most common histological type was astrocytoma followed by medulloblastoma / PNET. The main management modalities were surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy. The overall survival probabilities using Kaplan-Meier survival estimate, are 64% and 57 % at 5 and 8 years after diagnosis respectively. Discussion: This is the first study looking at paediatric CNS tumours in Malta. The main points which emerge from this study are (a) the overall incidence rate compares favourably with that of many European countries, (b) management is compatible with state of the art knowledge and guidelines for management of these problems and (c) the overall survival rate compares favourably with that of other European countries. |
Published in: | |
| Journal | Malta Medical Journal |
| Volume | 18 Supplement |
| Page | |
| Date | 01/12/2006 |
| Link to journal | |
| Key words | cancer registry, CNS tumours, incidence, survival |