Ganglioglioma in children. A review of 32 cases at the University of Florida.

The entity ganglioglioma in children seems to be an increasingly more common tumor. Most of these lesions are pathologically and clinically benign but have a pathological and clinical continuum in their behavior. Gross total resection, especially involving the lesions in the supratentorial compartment, is often curative. The most common symptom, seizures, in this group of lesions, can often be alleviated with removal of the tumor. This may be enhanced with the use of corticography at the initial surgery. The group of lesions located in the brainstem are more difficult to control and may require multiple operations and other therapies including radiation and chemotherapy for optimum outcome. Malignant lesions in the ganglioglioma series are rare and optimum therapy for these tumors is not well defined at this time. Pathologically, this group of tumors needs better definition for designing the best therapy. We are planning a survey both retrospectively and prospectively with flow cytometry and the use of various makers such as the K167 proliferation antigen to better define potential biological behavior. Clearly, a broader discussion with the patient and family is indicated when one of these tumors is discovered and operated.