Age-dependent presentation of tectal plate tumors : preliminary observations

Tectal plate tumors are intrinsic midbrain tumors that behave more like hamartomas than neoplasms. Postulating that the presentation depends on the age of the affected patients, the authors reassessed the presentation of 10 consecutive patients. All patients presented with headache and papilledema. Four children younger than 10 years presented with a short symptom interval, vomiting, and Parinaud's syndrome. The remaining 6 children presented with a long symptom interval, gait abnormalities, cognitive impairment, vision impairment, tremor, macrocephaly, impaired visual acuity, and ataxia and sometimes with pyramidal signs as well. The difference between groups was statistically significant. Tumor size was similar in the groups. It is therefore concluded that the presentation of tectal plate tumors varies with age.