Clinical presentation of young people (10-24 years old) with brain tumors: results from the international MOBI-Kids study

Abstract

Overview

The MOBI-Kids study, a 14-country international collaborative project, explored the clinical features of brain tumors (BTs) in individuals aged 10-24 years using comprehensive clinical records analysis.

Methods

• Data from 899 cases including symptoms, diagnosis details, and tumor specifics like type and location.

Findings

• Majority (64%) of tumors were of low grade.
• Most common were neuroepithelial (76%) and gliomas (62%) tumors, with males predominant in most except meningeal where females were more.
• Frequent tumor locations: cerebellum at 22% and frontal lobe at 16%.
• Common symptoms included headaches (60%) and convulsions for other tumor types; distinct cluster of headache and nausea reported together at 67%.
• Median time from first symptom to diagnosis was 1.42 months, with a 12% experiencing over a year's delay.

Conclusion

This extensive clinical epidemiological study highlights critical insights into the predominance of headaches, rapid diagnosis processes but also significant diagnostic delays in certain cases. It underscores the need for enhanced awareness regarding the potential symptoms of brain tumors in young individuals.