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Radiotherapy Options of Brainstem Tumors

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Book cover Posterior Fossa Tumors in Children

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Abstract

The brainstem is the connecting structure that joins the long tract from the cerebral hemispheres and midline diencephalic nuclei with the cerebellar tracts, forming the spinal cord as the tracts exit through the foramen magnum. Within the brainstem are the nuclei of the cranial nerves, the reticular activating system, and vital function centers (e.g., respiratory). The brainstem includes three anatomic segments: the midbrain, the pons, and the medulla.

Brainstem gliomas account for 20 % of all central nervous system tumors in children. They can be focal, dorsal exophytic tumors or diffuse infiltrating types. The management depends on the location and imaging characteristics. Treatment of diffuse tumors include radiotherapy with or without chemotherapy. Even with the high technological advances in the planning and delivery of radiation the outcomes of this tumors are still poor.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Medipol University, Istanbul, Turkey

    Hale Başak Caglar M.D.

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  1. Hale Başak Caglar M.D.
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Correspondence to Hale Başak Caglar M.D. .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Neurosurgery, Acıbadem University, Istanbul, Istanbul, Turkey

    M. Memet Özek

  2. Pediatric Neurosurgery, Santobono Children's Hospital, Naples, Napoli, Italy

    Giuseppe Cinalli

  3. Dept. Neurosurgery, Royal Childrens Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

    Wirginia Maixner

  4. Pediatric Neurosurgery, Hopital Necker-Enfants Malades, Paris, Paris, France

    Christian Sainte-Rose

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© 2015 Springer International Publishing Switzerland

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Caglar, H.B. (2015). Radiotherapy Options of Brainstem Tumors. In: Özek, M., Cinalli, G., Maixner, W., Sainte-Rose, C. (eds) Posterior Fossa Tumors in Children. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-11274-9_36

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-11274-9_36

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-11273-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-11274-9

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

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