Consciousness and behavioral disturbances with intracranial tumours in children

ABSTRACT

This study included 28 patients with intracranial tumors whose ages ranged from 2 to 10 years. They were subjected to thorough clinical evaluation, with special inquiry about the state of consciousness and higher cerebral functions, fundus examination, plain X-ray skull, computed axial tomography and pathological studies [in 4 cases]. Five cases were supratentorial tumors and the other 23 cases were infratentorial tumors. Only one of the cases with supratentorial tumors developed disturbances in consciousness whereas 9 cases with infratentorial tumors showed evident disturbed consciousness. Mental and behavioral changes in the form of disorientation, lack of concentration and impairment of memory, non cooperative response and disinterest to surrounding persons were present in 7 cases with infratentorial tumors. Generalized seizures were noticed in 2 infratentorial tumors. Correlation between seizures, mental symptoms and disturbed consciousness is discussed