Clinical, Histologic, and Therapeutic Pattern of Posterior Fossa Tumors in Children in Cameroon: A Cross-sectional Study

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Posterior fossa tumors are significant in pediatric neurooncological populations due to their frequency and morbimortality. We convey a 10-year experience managing pediatric posterior fossa tumors at two reference centers in Cameroon. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study with data collected retrospectively in the Neurosurgery Department of the Central and General Hospitals of Yaounde from January 2010 to December 2019. Included in the study were all patients aged 0-15 years who underwent surgery for posterior fossa tumors. RESULTS: We retained 43 pediatric posterior fossa tumor files, representing 47.89% of pediatric brain tumors. The male/female sex ratio was 0.86, with a mean age of 6.93 ± 4.345 years. The predominant clinical presentations were headaches + vomiting (97.7%), visual impairment (67.4%), and altered consciousness (14%). The vermis was the most frequent site affected (46.5%). Hydrocephalus was found to be associated with the tumor in 30 patients (69.8%). Tumor excision was total in 90.7% of cases, with cerebrospinal fluid diversion performed within the surgery in 83% of cases. Pilocytic astrocytomas represented 37.2%, medulloblastomas 30.25%, ependymomas 6.9%, and brainstem gliomas 4.6%. The postoperatory mortality rate was 20.9%. The survival rate at 5 years for medulloblastomas was 43%. CONCLUSION: Pediatric posterior fossa tumors are frequent. Pilocytic astrocytomas are the most common histologic type, followed by medulloblastomas. Radical surgery is the leading standard of care. Adjuvant treatment remains limited.