Clinical characteristics and surgical outcomes of gross total resection in pediatric low-grade epilepsy-associated brain tumors: A retrospective study.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to investigate the clinical characteristics and identify risk factors associated with postoperative seizure outcomes in pediatric patients with low-grade epilepsy-associated brain tumors (LEATs) who underwent gross total resection (GTR).

METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of pediatric patients who underwent GTR of LEATs. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the clinical features, and patients were categorized into two groups based on postoperative seizure outcomes: seizure-free and non-seizure-free. Binary logistic regression analysis was performed to identify independent risk factors for failure to achieve seizure freedom.

RESULTS

A total of 75 pediatric patients with LEATs who underwent GTR were included in the study. Among them, 58 (77.3 %) achieved seizure freedom, while 17 (22.7 %) remained non-seizure-free postoperatively. Binary logistic regression analysis identified longer epilepsy duration (OR = 1.03, p = 0.034), the number of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) (OR = 10.90, p = 0.005), and non-temporal lobe tumor location (OR = 6.02, p = 0.028) as significant independent risk factors for persistent postoperative seizures.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings suggest that even after gross total resection, a prolonged history of epilepsy, extratemporal tumor location, and polytherapy with AEDs are associated with a lower likelihood of achieving seizure freedom. Early surgical intervention and comprehensive preoperative assessment may help optimize postoperative seizure outcomes in pediatric patients with LEATs.