Andrej Lipužič
Zdravstveni dom dr. Julija Polca Kamnik, Kamnik

Janez Jazbec
Klinični oddelek za otroško hematologijo in onkologijo, Pediatrična klinika, Univerzitetni klinični center Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenija in Katedra za pediatrijo, Medicinska fakulteta Univerze v Ljubljani, Ljubljana, Slovenija

Lidija Kitanovski
Klinični oddelek za otroško hematologijo in onkologijo, Pediatrična klinika, Univerzitetni klinični center Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenija

Barbara Faganel Kotnik
Klinični oddelek za otroško hematologijo in onkologijo, Pediatrična klinika, Univerzitetni klinični center Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenija in Katedra za pediatrijo, Medicinska fakulteta Univerze v Ljubljani, Ljubljana, Slovenija

Nataša Šuštar
Klinični oddelek za otroško hematologijo in onkologijo, Pediatrična klinika, Univerzitetni klinični center Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenija

Ivana Kreft Hausmeister
Klinični oddelek za otroško hematologijo in onkologijo, Pediatrična klinika, Univerzitetni klinični center Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenija in Katedra za pediatrijo, Medicinska fakulteta Univerze v Ljubljani, Ljubljana, Slovenija

Milica Stefanović
Klinični oddelek za otroško hematologijo in onkologijo, Pediatrična klinika, Univerzitetni klinični center Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenija in Katedra za pediatrijo, Medicinska fakulteta Univerze v Ljubljani, Ljubljana, Slovenija

Abstract

Tumours of the central nervous system (CNS) are the most common solid tumours in children and the second most common group of childhood malignancies. Their symptoms are often non-specific, making early recognition of the disease difficult. An important factor in patient management is the pre-diagnostic symptomatic interval (PSI), defined as the period between symptom onset and diagnosis, which may influence neurological outcomes. This study aimed to determine the duration of the PSI in children with brain tumours in Slovenia between 2015 and 2020 and to identify the factors affecting it. This retrospective study included 116 children and adolescents aged 0–19 years who were diagnosed with a brain tumour between 2015 and 2020. Data were obtained from the information system of the Paediatric Clinic (ISPEK). Information was collected on sex, age, tumour type and location, symptoms at initial presentation, and PSI duration. In the Slovenian paediatric population with brain tumours, the PSI was comparable to or shorter than that reported in most international studies. The biological aggressiveness of the tumour and the patient’s age had a significant effect on PSI duration. CNS tumours in paediatric patients may present with entirely non-specific symptoms; therefore, such symptoms should also be carefully considered, particularly when they recur or persist. We emphasise the importance of taking a thorough medical history and performing a focused neurological examination as key measures for the early recognition of the disease and for reducing the time to diagnosis.

Key words: children, brain tumours, pre-diagnostic symptomatic interval, central nervous system, retrospective study