Brain tumors in the first 2 years of life in Saudi Arabia.

Thirty-four patients with brain tumors were diagnosed and treated during the first 2 years of life, representing 8% of the 273 children treated for primary brain tumors from 1981 to 1990 inclusive. Large head circumference, vomiting, and altered level of consciousness were the chief findings at the time of presentation. Overall, the tumors were located mainly supratentorially; in patients in the 1st year of life they were equally distributed above and below the tentorium, while two-thirds of the patients presenting in the 2nd year of life had supratentorial tumors. The most common histological types were astrocytomas and medulloblastomas. Treatment methods were ventricular peritoneal shunt, craniotomy with total or partial removal of the tumor, adjuvant radiotherapy, and in a few cases chemotherapy. The 2-month mortality rate was 5.9%. The follow-up period ranged from 3 to 50 months.