Adult Central Neurocytomas: Clinical Features and Long-Term Treatment Outcomes in Different Age Groups.

BACKGROUND

Central neurocytomas (CNs) usually occur in young adults, and the clinical characteristics and surgical outcomes of patients in different age groups may be different.

METHODS

This study was undertaken to compare the clinical and long-term treatment outcomes of patients with CNs in younger and older adult age groups.

RESULTS

Eighty consecutive adults with CNs were included, with a mean presentation age of 28.4±7.6 years (range: 19-66 years). Thirty (37.5%) patients were <27 years old, and they tended to manifest with multiple symptoms (P = 0.002), increased intracranial pressure (ICP) symptoms (P = 0.036), an acute clinical course (P = 0.037), worse preoperative neurologic function (P = 0.023), and a larger lesion size and volume (P = 0.004 and 0.007, respectively) than their older age counterparts (≧27 years). An older onset age (P = 0.005) or age ≧27 years (P = 0.014) and worsened Karnofsky Performance Status (KPS) scale (P = 0.040) immediately after microsurgery were associated with unimproved long-term outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS

CNs in younger adult patients behave differently from those in the older age group. Surgery can halt neurologic deterioration and ensure satisfactory outcomes.