Journal of neurosurgery. Pediatrics
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J Neurosurg Pediatr · Oct 2018
Meta AnalysisSurgical outcomes of pediatric spinal cord astrocytomas: systematic review and meta-analysis.
Pediatric spinal astrocytomas are rare spinal lesions that pose unique management challenges. Therapeutic options include gross-total resection (GTR), subtotal resection (STR), and adjuvant chemotherapy or radiation therapy. With no randomized controlled trials, the optimal management approach for children with spinal astrocytomas remains unclear. The aim of this study was to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis on pediatric spinal astrocytomas. ⋯ The authors describe trends in the management of pediatric spinal cord astrocytomas and suggest a benefit of GTR over STR for 5-year overall survival.