Important Points to Keep in Mind About Brain Tumors Among Children

Primary brain tumors are a diverse group of diseases that constitute the most common tumor of childhood.They can be benign or malignant. Brain tumors have been divided and classified according to their individual histology. IT may however be kept in mind that location of tumor and the extent to which it has spread are important factors which can and does impact and affect treatment and recovery.Immunohistochemical analyses, cytogenetic and molecular genetic findings, measures of mitotic activity are being used in diagnosing and classifying brain tumor amongst children.

It is observed that approximately 50% of brain tumors amongst children are infratentorial. 75% of them located in the cerebellum or fourth ventricle.

Special care should be taken for children who suffer from Brain tumors. Like one should understand that therapy or treatment for such children and more importantly their recovery will depend upon how accurate and exact the diagnoses is. The stage of cancer, the size, and the extent to which it has spread – everything has an important role to play. Unless all these have been diagnosed clearly and correctly by an expert the treatment will not help.

Children who have been diagnosed with primary brain tumors come with a big therapy challenge ahead. And for best possible results what is required is – coordinated efforts of pediatric specialists in fields like neurosurgery, rehabilitation, neuropathology, radiation oncology, pediatric oncology, neuro-oncology, neuroradiology, endocrinology, and psychology. Their special expertise has an important role to play in the treatment.

Only half of the children diagnosed with brain tumors are likely to survive 5 years from diagnosis. IN some children higher possibility of survival and cure is also possible. The reason for brain tumor in children remains unknown and needless to say numerous researches in the area are underway. Guidelines for pediatric cancer centers and their role in the treatment of these pediatric patients (children in this case) with cancer have been outlined by the American Academy of Pediatrics.