Failure to Thrive of Cerebral Etiology

Abstract

"FAILURE to thrive" may be the presenting complaint of an intracranial neoplasm. Classically, in this condition, an astrocytoma in the region of the third ventricle may appear with the symptoms of the "diencephalic syndrome."^{1 , 2} It is characterized by intermittent vomiting, progressive emaciation, pallor without anemia, euphoria, alertness and hyperactivity. Optic atrophy with associated nystagmus occurs later. Brain tumors in areas other than the third ventricle have rarely been documented^{2 , 3} as causes of "failure to thrive." The present report is intended to alert the physician to the possibility that tumors of the posterior fossa may produce this symptom complex.Case Report . . .