Brain Tumors in Children

Brain tumors are the second most common cancer during childhood—second only to leukemia—and the most common variety of solid tumors in children. According to the Mayo Clinic, in the United States, 2,000 children (under age 16) are diagnosed with a brain tumor each year.

Childhood Brain Tumors

The majority of pediatric brain tumors are classified as primary tumors, or tumors that begin in the brain. Although primary tumors usually don't spread beyond the spinal cord and brain, they can cause significant side effects when the mass presses on vital tissues and structures in the brain.
Gliomas, brain tumors originating in the supportive glial cells, account for half of all childhood brain tumors. Other common types of pediatric brain tumors include:
  • Medulloblastomas: These account for 20 percent of all childhood brain tumors. Medulloblastomas originate in the cerebellum and are the most common type of malignant pediatric brain tumors. They affect boys more often than girls, mostly from ages 2 to 7.
  • Brain stem gliomas: These account for 10 to 15 percent of all childhood brain tumors. Brain stem gliomas usually affect children between 5 and 10 years old. Surgery is usually not an option due to the location of the tumor; treatment plans usually include radiation and chemotherapy.
  • Cerebellar astrocytomas: These comprise 15 to 20 percent of pediatric brain tumors. These astrocytomas are benign tumors arising from the glial cells in the cerebellum, and they affect children and adolescents of all ages.
  • Ependymomas: Ependymomas represent 8 to 10 percent of pediatric brain tumors. These gliomas occur at any age during childhood and begin in the cells lining the cerebral ventricles.

Brain Tumor Treatment in Children

With respect to treatment for brain tumors, children often have the same options as adults. However, the child's age is very important in determining which combination and series of procedures will be used. As with adult tumors, the type of treatment also depends on the type and location of the tumor and the health of the patient. Brain tumor treatment options include:
  • Chemotherapy
  • Radiation therapy
  • Surgery.
Because a child's brain is still developing and growing, radiation is not generally an optimal treatment for children. During radiation therapy, high energy rays directed from a large machine target and kill tumor cells. The child must sit absolutely still for these treatments or be placed in a metal frame to hold the head in place. Both healthy and tumor cells are affected, which can lead to learning, developmental and memory problems after treatment. Neuro-oncologists are conducting experimental clinical trials to find different procedures that will either help to decrease or delay radiation therapy.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Pernicious Anemia: Vitamin B12 Deficiency

Image
Anemia  is a blood disorder in which the number of red blood cells or the amount of hemoglobin is lower than normal. With fewer red blood cells or hemoglobin, insufficient oxygen is delivered to the body 's cells. Pernicious anemia  is a type of anemia caused by a deficiency in vitamin B12. In pernicious anemia, the lack of vitamin B12 is due to the body 's inability to produce enough  intrinsic factor , a protein necessary for the absorption of vitamin B12. Pernicious anemia is a type of  megaloblastic anemia . Megaloblastic anemia is defined as, "a blood disorder characterized by anemia, with red blood cells that are larger than normal, usually resulting from a deficiency of folic acid or of vitamin B12 .  " (U.S. National Library of Medicine) Pernicious anemia by any other name . . . Pernicious anemia is known by a number of other names, including: macrocytic achylic anemia congenital pernicious anemia juvenile pernicious anemia vitamin B12 deficienc
Keep reading

Stress Relaxation Techniques

The ultimate goal in stress coping and management is to reduce the negative effects of stress. Different relaxation techniques have proved successful and can be used based on individual preference. Brief descriptions of various techniques follow. If you are interested in pursuing the use of these techniques further, more information is available in books or on tapes. These books and tapes can be purchased at bookstores or may be accessible at your library. Deep Breating as a Relaxation Technique Deep breathing is the most basic relaxation technique and is often the foundation for other methods. The primary benefit is that deep breathing can be done anywhere and anytime. It is beneficial to practice deep breathing several times a day. The methodology consists of completely filling the lungs when breathing so that the abdomen expands out ward. You begin by taking a deep breath and then exhaling slowly through the mouth. A hand can be placed on the stomach to ensure that it is fully e
Keep reading

Nutrition & Cystic Fibrosis

Image
Cystic fibrosis is a genetic disorder that affects the body's exocrine glands, including the various mucus and sweat glands found throughout the body. Since cystic fibrosis is an inherited disease, most people with the disease are usually diagnosed by their first birthday. The most common problems due to cystic fibrosis are related to the lungs and the digestive system. In the lungs, the mucus produced by the various exocrine glands is abnormally thick, creating obstructions in the breathing passageways and, eventually, damage to the lungs. Furthermore, the thick mucus creates an ideal breeding ground for various bacteria and other organisms, which results in frequent lung infections, damage to the lungs and, ultimately, respiratory failure. Cystic fibrosis also affects the pancreas. The pancreas is responsible for producing various enzymes to aid in digestion, but in cystic fibrosis the pancreas is unable to excrete sufficient amounts of pancreatic enzymes to help digest foo
Keep reading