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Seminars in Neurosurgery 2002; 13(1): 005-018
DOI: 10.1055/s-2002-35243
Copyright © 2002 by Thieme Medical Publishers, Inc., 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA. Tel.: +1(212) 584-4662

Current Management of Pediatric Brain Tumors

Ian F. Pollack1 , Regina Jakacki2 , Melvin Deutsch3 , Ronald L. Hamilton4
  • 1Department of Neurosurgery, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
  • 2Department of Pediatrics (Hematology-Oncology), Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
  • 3Department of Radiation Oncology, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
  • 4Department of Pathology (Neuropathology), Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
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Publication History

Publication Date:
04 November 2002 (online)

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ABSTRACT

Central nervous system (CNS) tumors are the most common solid neoplasms of childhood. Each year, approximately 1500 to 2000 children in the United States are diagnosed with brain tumors. Although the mortality rate for pediatric brain tumors exceeds many other childhood neoplasms, recent therapeutic advances are enabling an increasing percentage of affected children to survive into adulthood. Surgical intervention plays an important role in the treatment of many types of childhood brain tumors. Improvements in surgical management, coupled with focused radiotherapeutic techniques, and innovative approaches for chemotherapy are being incorporated in new treatment strategies for a variety of different histological groups. This review discusses contemporary treatment approaches for the most common pediatric brain tumors, highlighting recent developments that have significantly altered outcome, identifying areas of controversy, and discussing ongoing and future directions for therapeutic refinement.

KEYWORDS

Brain tumor - chemotherapy - childhood - craniopharyngioma - glioma - ependymoma - late effects - medulloblastoma - radiotherapy - surgery

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