Abstract
Introduction Central nervous system (CNS) tumors are the most common solid tumors in childhood,
comprising 20% of all neoplasms in that age. Besides, they constitute the biggest
cause of morbidity and mortality among childhood tumors, and about two thirds of the
surviving patients have sequelae. The build-up of sequelae due to neoplastic growth
is directly related with the time until diagnosis. Therefore, late diagnosis has a
negative influence on the prognosis.
Objective To analyze the journey of the pediatric patients with CNS tumors and their families
to the reference center.
Materials and Methods The present is a retrospective, prospective cohort study based on chart analyses
and questionnaire application.
Results The mean age of the patients was 8.39 years, most were male (58%), white (56%), and
originated from the Southeast of Brazil (56%). A total of 83% of the patients were
accompanied by their mothers, and the family income obtained was below 3 minimum wages
(20%). The average time until perception of the first signs or symptoms was 48 days,
the mean time from symptom perception until the first medical appointment was 30 days,
and the mean time between the first medical appointment and referral to Hospital de
Amor Infantojuvenil de Barretos was 315 days. The most frequently present signs and
symptoms were neurological manifestations (72%), such as headaches (14.8%) and projectile
vomiting (6.5%). There was an association between the medical service (public or private
service) where the first medical appointment took place and the first medical specialty
consulted, although it did not relate to a shorter time until diagnosis.
Conclusion The difficulties in the journey of CNS tumor pediatric patients occurred mainly due
to health system flaws and medical professionals' hardships. Thus, it is essential
to reinforce the importance of continued medical education and to encourage new studies
that may reveal precisely where these system flaws are taking place.
Keywords
early diagnosis - pediatrics - central nervous system neoplasms
Bibliographical Record
Marcela Yasmin Leroy, Luiz Fernando Lopes, Raniela Ferreira Faria, Thaissa Maria Veiga
Faria, Denise Leonardi Queiroz Prado, Welinton Yoshio Hirai, Bruna Minniti Mançano.
Exploiting the Impact of Sociodemographics in the Diagnosis of Central Nervous System
Tumors in Childhood. Brazilian Journal of Oncology 2025; 21: s00441800868.
DOI: 10.1055/s-0044-1800868
