The diagnosis of brain tumours in children: a guideline to assist healthcare professionals in the assessment of children who may have a brain tumour
The diagnosis of brain tumours in children: a guideline to assist healthcare professionals in the assessment of children who may have a brain tumour
Background: Brain tumours are the commonest solid tumour in children. Children with brain tumours are frequently unwell for months prior to diagnosis. A prolonged period between symptom onset and diagnosis is associated with increased morbidity.
Objective To develop an evidence-based clinical guideline to support healthcare professionals in the identification, assessment and investigation of children presenting with symptoms and signs that could be due to a brain tumour.
Methods: A systematic literature review with a meta-analysis and cohort study provided the guideline evidence base. A multi-disciplinary workshop and Delphi consensus voting were used to translate the evidence into a clinical guideline. The results of the literature review and cohort study have been previously published.
Results: 20 healthcare professionals and parents participated in the workshop. 77 statements were generated detailing the presenting features of childhood brain tumours, factors that could be used to discriminate brain tumours from other less serious conditions and possible referral pathways for children with brain tumours. 156 healthcare professionals agreed to participate in the Delphi process; 112 completed the first round and 88 completed all three rounds (attrition rate 21%). 64 statements reached consensus. The final guideline comprises 76 recommendations advising on the symptomatology of childhood brain tumours, assessment of children who may have a brain tumour and recommendations for selection for and timing of central nervous system imaging.
Conclusion: Implementation of this guideline may support clinicians in the identification and timely imaging of children with brain tumours. This may reduce the morbidity currently experienced by many children with brain tumours.
Wilne, Sophie
b12454d7-ed53-493f-8c1d-cd2f6cd733b8
Koller, Karin
90403125-d0be-431a-b800-74227cfaa305
Collier, Jacqueline
ffa786fe-73d8-49b0-804c-44167cb821d4
Kennedy, Colin
7c3aff62-0a86-4b44-b7d7-4bc01f23ec93
Grundy, Richard
37c07de7-41c3-4afa-9ad8-c9c4bfe277a6
Walker, David
0c127f56-bd2a-4b6d-9cc2-caec03349102
6 April 2010
Wilne, Sophie
b12454d7-ed53-493f-8c1d-cd2f6cd733b8
Koller, Karin
90403125-d0be-431a-b800-74227cfaa305
Collier, Jacqueline
ffa786fe-73d8-49b0-804c-44167cb821d4
Kennedy, Colin
7c3aff62-0a86-4b44-b7d7-4bc01f23ec93
Grundy, Richard
37c07de7-41c3-4afa-9ad8-c9c4bfe277a6
Walker, David
0c127f56-bd2a-4b6d-9cc2-caec03349102
Wilne, Sophie, Koller, Karin, Collier, Jacqueline, Kennedy, Colin, Grundy, Richard and Walker, David
(2010)
The diagnosis of brain tumours in children: a guideline to assist healthcare professionals in the assessment of children who may have a brain tumour.
Archives of Disease in Childhood.
(doi:10.1136/adc.2009.162057).
Abstract
Background: Brain tumours are the commonest solid tumour in children. Children with brain tumours are frequently unwell for months prior to diagnosis. A prolonged period between symptom onset and diagnosis is associated with increased morbidity.
Objective To develop an evidence-based clinical guideline to support healthcare professionals in the identification, assessment and investigation of children presenting with symptoms and signs that could be due to a brain tumour.
Methods: A systematic literature review with a meta-analysis and cohort study provided the guideline evidence base. A multi-disciplinary workshop and Delphi consensus voting were used to translate the evidence into a clinical guideline. The results of the literature review and cohort study have been previously published.
Results: 20 healthcare professionals and parents participated in the workshop. 77 statements were generated detailing the presenting features of childhood brain tumours, factors that could be used to discriminate brain tumours from other less serious conditions and possible referral pathways for children with brain tumours. 156 healthcare professionals agreed to participate in the Delphi process; 112 completed the first round and 88 completed all three rounds (attrition rate 21%). 64 statements reached consensus. The final guideline comprises 76 recommendations advising on the symptomatology of childhood brain tumours, assessment of children who may have a brain tumour and recommendations for selection for and timing of central nervous system imaging.
Conclusion: Implementation of this guideline may support clinicians in the identification and timely imaging of children with brain tumours. This may reduce the morbidity currently experienced by many children with brain tumours.
Text
Wilne_et_al_adc_2010l.pdf
- Version of Record
Restricted to Repository staff only
Request a copy
More information
Published date: 6 April 2010
Identifiers
Local EPrints ID: 153045
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/153045
ISSN: 0003-9888
PURE UUID: b09c3a0e-5fc4-4ad6-873c-0d079bdb94d6
Catalogue record
Date deposited: 18 May 2010 10:28
Last modified: 14 Mar 2024 01:26
Export record
Altmetrics
Contributors
Author:
Sophie Wilne
Author:
Karin Koller
Author:
Jacqueline Collier
Author:
Richard Grundy
Author:
David Walker
Download statistics
Downloads from ePrints over the past year. Other digital versions may also be available to download e.g. from the publisher's website.
View more statistics