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Lookup NU author(s): Professor Simon BaileyORCiD, Dr Pamela Kearns
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).
© 2018 The Author(s) Background: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is routinely used as a surveillance tool to detect early asymptomatic tumour recurrence with a view to improving patient outcomes. This systematic review aimed to assess its utility in children with low-grade CNS tumours. Methods: Using standard systematic review methods, twelve databases were searched up to January 2017. Results: Seven retrospective case series studies (n = 370 patients) were included, with average follow-up ranging from 5.6 to 7 years. No randomised controlled trials (RCTs) were identified. Due to study heterogeneity only a descriptive synthesis could be undertaken. Imaging was most frequent in the first year post-surgery (with 2–4 scans) reducing to around half this frequency in year two and annually thereafter for the duration of follow-up. Diagnostic yield ranged from 0.25 to 2%. Recurrence rates ranged from 5 to 41%, with most recurrences asymptomatic (range 65–100%). Collectively, 56% of recurrences had occurred within the first year post-treatment (46% in the first 6-months), 68% by year two and 90% by year five. Following recurrence, 90% of patients underwent treatment changes, mainly repeat surgery (72%). Five-year OS ranged from 96 to 100%, while five-year recurrence-free survival ranged from 67 to 100%. None of the studies reported quality of life measures. Conclusion: This systematic review highlights the paucity of evidence currently available to assess the utility of MRI surveillance despite it being routine clinical practice and costly to patients, their families and healthcare systems. This needs to be evaluated within the context of an RCT.
Author(s): Stevens SP, Main C, Bailey S, Pizer B, English M, Phillips R, Peet A, Avula S, Wilne S, Wheatley K, Kearns PR, Wilson JS
Publication type: Article
Publication status: Published
Journal: Journal of Neuro-Oncology
Year: 2018
Volume: 139
Issue: 3
Pages: 507-522
Print publication date: 01/09/2018
Online publication date: 09/06/2018
Acceptance date: 12/05/2018
Date deposited: 26/06/2018
ISSN (print): 0167-594X
ISSN (electronic): 1573-7373
Publisher: Springer New York LLC
URL: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11060-018-2901-x
DOI: 10.1007/s11060-018-2901-x
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