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Low-Grade Pediatric Brainstem Gliomas

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Brainstem Tumors

Abstract

Low-grade brainstem gliomas (LGBSG) in children is a heterogeneous pathological entity. Tumor location, clinical course, and radiological characteristics are the main factors affecting treatment and outcome.

Most low-grade gliomas in children have an indolent course. In selected cases, the diagnosis may be solely based on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI); however, in most cases, tissue sampling is indicated.

Treatment of LGBSG is multimodal. Some lesions are followed up conservatively. The role of surgery and oncological treatments (chemotherapy and radiation) have been discussed in this chapter. Generally speaking, maximally safe resection is advised when possible. Intraoperative monitoring is mandatory during surgery, which increases patient safety.

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Abbreviations

18F-FET:

O-(2-18F-fluoroethyl)-L-tyrosine

BSG:

Brainstem gliomas

CN:

Cranial nerve

CNS:

Central nervous system

DIPG:

Diffuse intrinsic pontine gliomas

DPG:

Diffuse pontine gliomas

DTI:

Diffusion tensor imaging

DWI:

Diffusion-weighted imaging

EMG:

Electromyographic

ETV:

Endoscopic third ventriculostomy

FLAIR:

Fluid-attenuated inversion recovery

GTR:

Gross total resection

ICP:

Intracranial pressure

IDH:

Isocitrate dehydrogenase

IOM:

Intraoperative monitoring

LGBSG:

Low-grade brainstem gliomas

LGG:

Low-grade gliomas

MRI:

Magnetic resonance imaging

MRS:

Magnetic resonance spectroscopy

NF:

Neurofibromatosis

OS:

Overall survival

PET:

Positron emission tomography

PFS:

Progression free survival

PNET:

Primitive neuroectodermal tumors

TIVA:

Total intravenous anesthesia

WHO:

World Health Organization

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatric Neurosurgery, Dana Children’s Hospital, Tel-Aviv Medical Center, Tel-Aviv, Israel

    Jonathan Roth, Danil A. Kozyrev & Shlomi Constantini

Authors
  1. Jonathan Roth
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  2. Danil A. Kozyrev
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  3. Shlomi Constantini
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurosurgery, Institute for Brain Protection Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital, Saint Petersburg, FL, USA

    George I. Jallo

  2. Department of Neurosurgery, Institute for Brain Protection Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital, Saint Petersburg, FL, USA

    Mohammad Hassan A. Noureldine

  3. Institute of Neuroscience, Geisinger Medical Center, Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine, Danville, PA, USA

    Nir Shimony

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Roth, J., Kozyrev, D.A., Constantini, S. (2020). Low-Grade Pediatric Brainstem Gliomas. In: Jallo, G., Noureldine, M., Shimony, N. (eds) Brainstem Tumors. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-38774-7_6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-38774-7_6

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-38773-0

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-38774-7

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