Management of subependymal giant cell astrocytoma in patients with tuberous sclerosis

ABSTRACT

The clinical records, radiological investigations and operative notes of six patients who had been diagnosed as having the clinical triad of the tuberous sclerosis in the form of seizures, mental retardation and sebaceous adenomas, with the typical CNS finding that develops subependymal giant cell astrocytoma, and who subsequently underwent surgical removal of the lesion. From April 1998 to April 2004 at Nasr Institute Hospital. There were 4 male patients [66.67%] the mean age was 13 years and 2 female's patients [33.33%] the mean age was 18 years. Medical treatment was the first line of treatment by antiepileptic drugs to control the seizures, with dermatological treatments and other drugs to control the intracranial pressure. All cases were operated on because of evidence of the tumor growth on the serial radiological examination with signs of obstruction of the ventricular system. All tumors removed underwent neuropathological examination and disclosed typical aspects of subependymal giant cell astrocytomas. Using new neurosurgical techniques such as microsurgery to routinely excise a growing mass, before hydrocephalus appears