Skip to main content

Advertisement

Log in

Nonmalignant pediatric brain tumors

  • Published:
Current Neurology and Neuroscience Reports Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Brain tumors are the most common solid neoplasms in the pediatric population. Each year in the United States, approximately 1500 to 2000 children are affected by one of these tumors. About 50% of pediatric brain tumors are malignant. Nonmalignant pediatric brain tumors comprise an eclectic group of pathologic entities that have fascinating clinical features. Many of these tumors demonstrate a favorable prognosis. In this report, we review the epidemiology, histopathology, genetics, clinical presentation, neuroimaging, and treatment of the common nonmalignant pediatric brain tumors, including low grade astrocytomas (such as cerebellar astrocytoma and optic pathway glioma), subependymal giant cell astrocytomas, central neurocytomas, dysembryoplastic neuroepithelial tumor, choroid plexus papilloma, and craniopharyngioma. Advances in the therapeutic management of patients with these tumors have considerably improved their prognosis.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References and Recommended Reading

  1. Hadjipanayis CG, Kondziolka D, Gardner P, et al.: Stereotactic radiosurgery for pilocytic astrocytomas when multimodal therapy is necessary. J Neurosurg 2002, 97:56–64. The authors examined the role of stereotactic surgery in the treatment of 37 patients with recurrent or unresectable pilocytic astrocytomas and concluded that this treatment modality is a valuable adjunctive strategy.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Rutka JT, Hoffman HJ, Duncan JA: Astrocytomas of the posterior fossa. In Surgical Disorders of the Fourth Ventricule. Edited by Cohen AR. Cambridge: Blackwell Science; 1996:189–208.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Lapras C, Palet JD, Lapras C Jr, Mottolese C: Cerebellar astrocytomas in the childhood. Childs Nerv Syst 1986, 2:55–59.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Abdollahzadeh M, Hoffman HJ, Blazer SI, et al.: Benign cerebellar astrocytomas on childhood: experience at the Hospital for Sick Children 1980–1992. Child Nerv Syst 1994, 10:380–383.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Hoyt WF, Baghdassarian SA: Optic glioma of the childhood: natural history and rationale for conservative management. Br J Ophthamol 1969, 53:793–798.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Housepian EM, Chi TL: Neurofibromatosis and optic pathway gliomas. J Neuroocol 1993, 15:51–55.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Hoffman HJ, Humpreys RP, Drake JM, et al.: Optic pathway/ hypothalamic gliomas: a dilemma in management. Pediatr Neurosurg 1993, 19:186–195.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Packer RJ, Ater J, Allen J, et al.: Carboplatin and vincristine chemotherapy for children with newly diagnosed progressive low-grade gliomas. J Neurosurgery 1997, 86:747–754.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Packer RJ, Lange B, Alter J, et al.: Carboplatin and vincristine for recurrent and newly diagnosed low-grade gliomas of the childhood. J Clin Oncol 1993, 11:850–856.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Dirks PB, Jay V, Becker LE, et al.: Development of anaplastic changes in low grade astrocytomas of childhood. Neurosurgery 1994, 34:68–78.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Duffner PK, Cohen ME, Thomas PR, Lansky SB: The long-term effects of cranial irradiation on the central nervous system. Cancer 1985, 56:1841.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Shepherd CW, Scheithauer BW, Gomez MR, et al.: Subependymal giant cell astrocytomas: a clinical, pathological, and flow cytometric study. Neurosurgery 1991, 28:864–868.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Ali JB, Sepp T, Ward S, et al.: Mutations in the TSC1 gene account for a minority of patients with sclerosis. J Med Genet 1998, 35:969–972.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Pencalet P, Sainte-Rose C, Lelloch-Tubiana A, et al.: Papillomas and carcinomas of the choroid plexus in children. J Neurosurg 1998, 88:521–528.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Carlotti CG Jr, Salhia B, Weitzman S, et al.: Evaluation of proliferative index and cell cycle protein expression in choroid plexus tumors in children. Acta Neuropathol (Berl). 2002, 103:1–10.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Baisden BL, Brat DJ, Melhem ER, et al.: Dysembryoplastic neuroepithelial tumor-like neoplasm of the septum pellucidum: a lesion often misdiagnosed as glioma: report of 10 cases. Am J Surg Path 2001, 25:494–499.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Daumas-Duport C, Scheithauer BW, Chodkiewicz JP, et al.: A surgically curable tumor of young patients with intractable seizures. Report of 39 cases. Neurosurgery 1998, 23:545–556.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Daumas-Duport C: Dysembryoplastic neuroepithelial tumors. Brain Pathol 1993, 3:283–295.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Prayson RA, Estes ML: Dysembryoplastic neuroepithelial tumors. Am J Clin Pathol 1992, 97:398–401.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Sanford RA, Einhaus SL: Craniopharyngioma. In Pediatric Neurosurgery. Edited by McGlone DG. Philadelphia: WB Saunders; 2001:697–710.

    Google Scholar 

  21. Carpentieri SC, Waber DP, Scott RM, et al.: Memory deficits among children with craniopharyngiomas. Neurosurgery 2001, 49:1053–1058.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Regine WF, Kramer S: Pediatric craniopharyngiomas: long term results of combined treatment with surgery and radiation. J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 1992, 24:611.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Yasargil MG, Curcic M, Kis M, et al.: Total removal of craniopharyngiomas: approaches and long-term results in 144 patients. J Neurosurg 1990, 73:3.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Flickinger JC, Lunsford LD, Singer J, et al.: Megavoltage external beam radiation of craniopharyngiomas: analysis of tumor control and morbidity. J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 1990, 19:117.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Kobayashi T, Tanaka T, Kida Y: Stereotactic gamma radiosurgery for craniopharyngiomas. Pediatr Neurosurg 1992, 21(suppl):69–74.

    Google Scholar 

  26. Manaka S, Teramoto A, Takakura K: The efficacy of radiotherapy for the craniopharyngioma. J Neurosurg 1995, 62:648.

    Google Scholar 

  27. Mottolese C, Stan H, Hermier M, et al.: Intracystic chemotherapy with bleomycin in the treatment of craniopharyngiomas. Childs Nerv Syst 2001, 17:724–730. The authors administered intracystic bleomycin to 24 patients with cystic or mixed and recurrent cystic craniopharyngiomas and concluded that bleomycin can be an alternative option in the treatment of these patients because it reduces surgical morbidity and improves clinical results.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Tarbell NJ, Barnes P, Scott RM, et al.: Advances in radiation therapy for craniopharyngiomas. Pediatr Neruosurg 1994, 21(suppl):101–107.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. Varlotta JM, Flickinger JC, Kondziolka D, et al.: External beam irradiation of craniopharyngiomas: long-term analysis of tumor control and morbidity. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 2002, 54:492–499.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  30. Park DH, Park JY, Kim JH, et al.: Outcome of postoperative intratumoral bleomycin injection for cyctic craniopharyngioma. J Korean Med Sci 2002, 17:245–249.

    Google Scholar 

  31. Van Effenterre R, Boch AL: Craniopharyngioma in adults and children: a study of 122 surgical cases. J Neurosurg 2002, 97:3–11. A large contemporary series of patients with craniopharyngioma treated with an aggressive surgical approach. Morbidity and mortality rates are very low in this series, and the authors make a good argument for the neurosurgical removal of these difficult tumors.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  32. Doty J, Schut L, Bruce DA, et al.: Intracranial meningiomas of the childhood and adolescence. Prog Exp Tumor Res 1987, 30:247.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. Ferrante L, Acqui M, Artico M, et al.: Cerebral meningiomas in children. Childs Nerv Syst 1989, 5:83.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  34. Sandberg DI, Edgar MA, Resch LA, et al.: MIB-1 staining index in pediatric meningiomas. Neurosurgery 2001, 48:590–597.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Rashidi, M., DaSilva, V.R., Minagar, A. et al. Nonmalignant pediatric brain tumors. Curr Neurol Neurosci Rep 3, 200–205 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11910-003-0079-9

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11910-003-0079-9

Keywords

Navigation