Adult Central Neurocytomas: Clinical Features and Long-Term Treatment Outcomes in Different Age Groups

BACKGROUND: Central neurocytomas (CNs) usually occur in young adults, and the clinical characteristics and surgical outcomes of patients in different age groups may be different. METHODS: This study was undertaken to compare the clinical and long -term treatment outcomes of patients with CNs in younger and older adult age groups. RESULTS: Eighty consecutive adults with CNs were included, with a mean presentation age of 28.4 +/- 7.6 years (range: 19-66 years). Thirty (37.5%) patients were <27 years old, and they tended to manifest with multiple symptoms (P = 0.002), increased intracranial pressure (ICP) symptoms (P = 0.036), an acute clinical course (P = 0.037), worse preoperative neurologic function (P = 0.023), and a larger lesion size and volume (P = 0.004 and 0.007, respectively) than their older age counterparts (>= 27 years). An older onset age (P = 0.005) or age >= 27 years (P = 0.014) and worsened Karnofsky Performance Status (KPS) scale (P = 0.040) immediately after microsurgery were associated with unimproved long-term outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: CNs in younger adult patients behave differently from those in the older age group. Surgery can halt neurologic deterioration and ensure satisfactory outcomes.