Childhood Brain Tumors

Childhood brain tumors are a diverse group of diseases characterized by the abnormal growth of tissue contained within the skull. Brain tumors can be benign (without cancer cells) or malignant (contains cancer cells). The brain controls vital functions such as memory and learning, the senses (hearing, sight, smell, taste, and touch), and emotion. It also controls other parts of the body, including muscles, organs, and blood vessels. Other than leukemia and lymphoma, brain tumors are the most common type of cancer that occurs in children.

Symptoms and Diagnosis

The symptoms for a brain tumor may include:

• Frequent headaches.
• Vomiting.
• Loss of appetite.
• Changes in mood and personality.
• Changes in ability to think and learn.
• Seizures.

If your child has symptoms that may be caused by a brain tumor, his or her doctor may order a computed tomographic (CT) scan, a diagnostic test that uses computers and x-rays to create pictures of the body. A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan, a diagnostic test similar to a CT scan but which uses magnetic waves instead of x-rays, may also be performed.

Often, surgery is required to determine whether a brain tumor exists and what type of tumor it is. A small sample of tumor tissue may be surgically removed and examined under a microscope. This is called a biopsy. Sometimes a biopsy is done by making a small hole in the skull and using a needle to extract a sample of the tumor.

Treatment

Three kinds of treatment are used:

• Surgery (removing the tumor in an operation)
• Radiation therapy (using high-dose x-rays to kill tumor cells)
• Chemotherapy (using drugs to kill tumor cells)

More than one method of treatment may be used, depending on the needs of the patient.

Reference:

National Cancer Institute, USA.