Seizures as the presenting symptom of brain tumours in children.

Seizures were the presenting clinical symptom in 10 (12%) of 81 consecutive children with a primary brain tumour treated in a tertiary paediatric oncology unit over 5 years. Nine patients experienced partial seizures, and in seven a waking electroencephalogram showed focal or lateralising abnormalities. Astrocytoma was the most common tumour histology. The delay in tumour diagnosis from the onset of seizures ranged from 2 weeks to 2 years with a mean of 6 months. Complete resection of the tumour was the only treatment in three patients and four underwent resection followed by radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy. Two patients died. Three patients became seizure free receiving no antiepileptic medication and the remaining five showed a 50-80% reduction in seizures between 2 and almost 5 years following treatment.