Central Nervous System Tumors in Children

Reference work entry

Introduction

Brain tumors are the most common solid tumor in children and are the second most common malignancy of childhood. The incidence of brain tumors peaks in the first decade and then again in later adulthood. Supratentorial tumors predominate during the first 2 years of life and then again in adolescence and young adulthood. Throughout the rest of the first decade, infratentorial tumors are more common. Tumors with embryonal histology such as medulloblastoma, supratentorial primitive neuroectodermal tumor (PNET), atypical teratoid rhabdoid tumor (AT/RT), and pineoblastoma occur more frequently in children than adults, and medulloblastoma is the most common type of malignant brain tumor in children. Gliomas can be benign or malignant and can occur anywhere along the neuroaxis.

Cancer arises from mutations that occur in genes that regulate cell growth and death. These mutations can occur in the entire germline or only within the somatic cells of the tumor itself. A small fraction...

Keywords

Germ Cell Tumor Central Nervous System Tumor Pediatric Brain Tumor Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma Brainstem Glioma 
These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in to check access.

References

  1. Albright AL, Price RA, Guthkelch AN (1985) Diencephalic gliomas of children. A clinicopathologic study. Contemp Neurosurg 55:2789–2793Google Scholar
  2. Anonymous (1991) The epidemiology of headache among children with brain tumor. Headache in children with brain tumors. The childhood brain tumor consortium. J Neurooncol 10:31–46CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  3. Barkovich AJ, Krischer J, Kun LE et al (1990) Brain stem gliomas: a classification system based on magnetic resonance imaging. Pediatr Neurosurg 16:73–83PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  4. Becker LE, Yates AJ (1986) Astroctyic tumors in children. In: Finegold M (ed) Pathology of neoplasia in children and adolescents. WB Saunders, Philadelphia, p 373Google Scholar
  5. Berger C, Thiesse P, Lellouch-Tubiana A et al (1998) Choroid plexus carcinomas in childhood: clinical features and prognostic factors. Neurosurgery 42:470–475PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  6. Biegel JA, Tan L, Zhang F et al (2002) Alterations of the hSNF5/INI1 gene in central nervous system atypical teratoid/rhaboid tumors and renal and extrarenal rhabdoid tumors. Clin Cancer Res 8:3461–3467PubMedGoogle Scholar
  7. Blaney SM, Kun LE, Hunter J et al (2006) Tumors of the central nervous system. In: Pizzo PA, Poplack DG (eds) Principles and practice of pediatric oncology., pp 786–864Google Scholar
  8. Bleyer WA (1999) Epidemiologic impact of children with brain tumors. Childs Nerv Syst 15:758–763PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  9. Bouffet E, Perilongo G, Canete A et al (1998) Intracranial ependymomas in children: a critical review of prognostic factors and a plea for cooperation. Med Pediatr Oncol 30:319–329PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  10. Bruno LA, Rorke LB, Norris DG (1981) Primitive neuroectodermal tumors of infancy and childhood. In: Humphrey GB, Dehner LP, Grindey GB (eds) Pediatric oncology. Nijhoff, Boston, pp 265–267Google Scholar
  11. Bunin GR, Surawicz TS, Witman PA et al (1998) The descriptive epidemiology of craniopharyngioma. J Neurosurg 89:547–551PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  12. Campbell JW, Pollack IF, Martinez AJ et al (1996) High-grade astrocytomas in children: radiologically complete resection is associated with an excellent long-term prognosis. Neurosurgery 38:258–264PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  13. Chan MY, Foong AP, Heisey BM et al (1998) Potential prognostic factors of relapse-free survival in childhood optic pathway glioma: a multivariate analysis. Pediatr Neurosurg 29:23–28PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  14. Chi SN, Zimmerman MA, Yao X, Cohen KJ et al (2009) Intensive multimodality treatment for children with newly diagnosed CNS atypical teratoid rhabdoid tumor. J Clin Oncol 27:385–389PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  15. Chow E, Reardon DA, Shah AB et al (1999) Pediatric choroid plexus neoplasms. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 44:249–254PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  16. Civitello LA, Packer RJ, Rorke LB et al (1988) Leptomenigeal dissemination of low-grade gliomas in childhood. Neurology 38:562–566PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  17. Eberhart CG, Cohen KJ, Tihan T et al (2003) Medulloblastomas with systemic metastases: evaluation of tumor histopathology and clinical behavior in 23 patients. J Pediatr Hematol Oncol 25:198–203PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  18. Evans AE, Jenkin RD, Sposto R et al (1990) The treatment of medulloblastoma. Results of a prospective randomized trial of radiation therapy with and without CCNU, vincristine, and prednisone. J Neurosurg 72:572–582PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  19. Finlay JL, Boyett JM, Yates AJ et al (1995) Randomized phase III trial in childhood high-grade astrocytoma comparing vincristine, loustine, and prednisone with the eight-drugs-in-1-day regimen. Childrens Cancer Group. J Clin Oncol 13:112–123PubMedGoogle Scholar
  20. Fisher PG, Breiter SN, Carson BS et al (2000) A clinicopathologic reappraisal of brain stem tumor classification. Identification of pilocytic astrocytoma and fibrillary astrocytoma as distinct entities. Cancer 89:1569–1576PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  21. Fouladi M, Wallace D, Langston JW et al (2003) Survival and functional outcome of children with hypothalamic/chiasmatic tumors. Cancer 15:1084–1092CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  22. Gaffney CC, Sloane JP, Bradley NJ et al (1985) Primitive neuroectodermal tumours of the cerebrum. Pathology and treatment. J Neurooncol 3:23–33PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  23. Gajjar A, Sanford FA, Heideman R et al (1997) Low-grade astrocytoma: a decade of experience at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. J Clin Oncol 15:2792–2799PubMedGoogle Scholar
  24. Greenberg ML (1999) Chemotherapy of choroid plexus carcinoma. Childs Nerv Syst 15:571–577PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  25. Griffin CA, Hawkins AL, Packer RJ et al (1988) Chromosome abnormalities in pediatric brain tumors. Cancer Res 48:175–180PubMedGoogle Scholar
  26. Gupta N, Banerjee A, Haas-Kogan D (2004) Pediatric CNS tumors. Springer, BerlinCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  27. Gurney JG, Kadan-Lottick N (2001) Brain and other central nervous system tumors: rate, trends, and epidemiology. Curr Opin Oncol 13:160–166PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  28. Gurney JG, Smith MA, Bunin GR (1999) Cancer incidence and survival among children and adolescents. United States SEER program 1975–1999. NIH Pub No 99–4649. National Cancer Institute, SEER Program, Bethesda, pp 51–63Google Scholar
  29. Healey EA, Barnes PD, Kupsky WJ et al (1991) The prognostic significance of postoperative residual tumor in ependymoma. Neurosurgery 28:666–671PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  30. Heideman RL, Kuttesch J Jr, Gajjar AJ et al (1997) Supratentorial malignant gliomas in childhood: a single institution perspective. Cancer 80:497–504PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  31. Hirsch JF, Sainte RC, Pierre-Kahn A et al (1989) Benign astrocytic and oligodendrocytic tumors of the cerebral hemispheres in children. J Neurosurg 70:568–572PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  32. Hirtz D, Ashwal S, Berg A et al (2000) Practice parameter: evaluating a first nonfebrile seizure in children: report of the quality standards subcommittee of the American Academy of Neurology, The Child Neurology Society, and The American Epilepsy Society. Neurology 55:616–623PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  33. Horn B, Heeideman R, Geyer R et al (1999) A multi-institutional retrospective study of intracranial ependymoma in children: identification of risk factors. J Pediatr Hematol Oncol 21:203–211PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  34. Housepian EM, Chi TL (1993) Neurofibromatosis and optic pathways gliomas. J Neurooncol 15:51–55PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  35. Hukin J, Epstein F, Lefton D et al (1998) Treatment of intracranial ependymoma by surgery alone. Pediatr Neurosurg 29:40–45PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  36. Janss AJ, Grundy R, Cnaan A et al (1995) Optic pathway and hypothalamic/chiasmatic gliomas in children younger than age 5 years with a 6-year follow up. Cancer 75:1051–1059PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  37. Jemal A, Clegg LX, Ward E et al (2004) Annual report to the nation on the status of cancer 1975–2001, with a special feature regarding survival. Cancer 101:3–27PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  38. Jenkin D, Berry M, Chan H et al (1990) Pineal region germinomas in childhood treatment considerations. Int Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 18:541–545CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  39. Judkins AR, Mauger J, Ht A et al (2004) Immunohistochemical analysis of hSNF5/INI1 in pediatric CNS neoplasms. Am J Surg Pathol 28:644–650PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  40. Kleihues P, Berger PC, Scheithauer B, O’Fallon J et al (1988) Grading of astrocytomas. A simple and reproducible method. Cancer 62:2152–2165CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  41. Kun LE, Kovnar EH, Sanford RA (1998) Ependymomas in children. Pediatr Neurosci 14:57–63CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  42. Legler JM, Ries LA, Smith MA et al (1999) Cancer surveillance series [corrected]: brain and other central nervous system cancers: recent trends in incidence and mortality. J Natl Cancer Inst 91:1382–1390PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  43. Lesniak MS, Klem JM, Weingart J et al (2003) Surgical outcome following resection f contrast-enhanced pediatric brainstem gliomas. Pediatr Neurosurg 39:314–322PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  44. Lewis DW (2007) Headaches in children and adolescents. Curr Probl Pediatr Adolesc Health Care 37:207–246PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  45. Lewis DW, Packer RJ, Raney B et al (1986) Incidence, presentation, and outcome of spinal cord disease in children with systemic cancer. Pediatrics 78:438–443PubMedGoogle Scholar
  46. Marchese MJ, Chang CH (1990) Malignant astrocytic gliomas in children. Cancer 65:2771–2778PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  47. Mason WP, Grovas A, Halpern S et al (1998) Intensive chemotherapy and bone marrow rescue for young children with newly diagnosed malignant brain tumors. J Clin Oncol 16:210–221PubMedGoogle Scholar
  48. Matsutani M, Sano K, Takakura K et al (1997) Primary intracranial germ cell tumors: a clinical analysis of 153 histologically verified cases. J Neurosurg 86:446–455PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  49. McNeil DE, Cote TR, Clegg L et al (2002) Incidence and trends in pediatric malignancies medulloblastoma/primitive neuroectodermal tumor: a SEER update: surveillance epidemiology and end results. Med Pediatr Oncol 39:190–194PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  50. Nazemi KJ, Malempati S (2009) Emergency department presentation of childhood cancer. Emerg Med Clin N Am 27:477–495CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  51. Packer RJ (2005) Progress and challenges in childhood brain tumors. J Neurooncol 75:239–242PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  52. Packer RJ, Cohen BH, Cooney K (2000) Intracranial germ cell tumors. Oncologist 5:312–320PubMedGoogle Scholar
  53. Pencale P, Sainte-Rose C, Lellouch-Tubiana A et al (1998) Papillomas and carcinomas of the choroid plexus in children. J Neurosurg 88:521–528CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  54. Pierre-Kahn A, Hirsch JF, Vinchon M et al (1993) Surgical management of brain-stem tumors in children: results and statistical analysis of 75 cases. J Neurosurg 79:845–852PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  55. Pollack IF (1994) Brain tumors in children. N Engl J Med 331:1500–1507PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  56. Pollack IF, Hurtt M, Pang D et al (1994) Dissemination of low grade intracranial astrocytomas in children. Cancer 73:2869–2878PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  57. Pollack IF, Gerszten PC, Martinez AJ et al (1995a) Intracranial ependymomas of childhood: long-term outcome and prognostic factors. Neurosurgery 37:655–666PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  58. Pollack IF, Claassen D, al Shboul Q et al (1995b) Low-grade gliomas of the cerebral hemispheres in children: an analysis of 71 cases. J Neurosurg 82:536–547PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  59. Pollack IF, Shultz B, Mulvihill JJ (1996) The management of brainstem gliomas in patients with neurofibromatosis 1. Neurology 46:1652–1660PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  60. Richmond IL, Wara WM, Wilson CB (1980) Role of radiation therapy in the management of craniopharyngiomas in children. Neurosurgery 6:513–517PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  61. Rickert CH, Paulus W (2001) Epidemiology of central nervous system tumors in childhood and adolescence based on the new WHO classification. Childs Nerv Syst 17:503–511PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  62. Robertson PL, Zeltzer PM, Boyett JM et al (1998) Survival and prognostic factors following radiation therapy and chemotherapy for ependymomas in children: a report of the Children’s Cancer Group. J Neurosurg 88:695–703PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  63. Ron E, Modan B, Boice JD Jr et al (1988) Tumors of the brain and nervous system after radiotherapy in childhood. N Engl J Med 319:1033–1039PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  64. Rorke LB, Packer RJ, Biegel JA (1996) Central nervous system atypical teratoid/rhaboid tumors of infancy and childhood: definition of an entity. J Neurosurg 85:56–65PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  65. Rousseau P, Habrand JL, Sarrazin D et al (1994) Treatment of intracranial ependymomas of children: review of a 15-year experience. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 28:381–386PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  66. Smith MA, Freidlin B, Ries LA et al (1998) Trends in reported incidence of primary malignant brain tumors in children in the United States. J Natl Cancer Inst 90:1269–1277PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  67. Smoots DW, Geyer JR, Lieberman DM et al (1998) Prediciting disease progression in childhood cerebellar astrocytoma. Childs Nerv Syst 14:636–648PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  68. Tarbell NJ, Loeffler JS, Silver B et al (1991) The change in patterns of relapse in medulloblastoma. Cancer 68:1600–1604PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  69. Wallner KE, Gonzales MF, Edwards MS et al (1988) Treatment results of juvenile pilocytic astrocytoma. J Neurosurg 69:171–176PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  70. Wilne SH, Ferris RC, Nathwani A et al (2006) The presenting features of brain tumors: a review of 200 cases. Arch Dis Child 91:502–506PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  71. Wilne S, Collier J, Kennedy C et al (2007) Presentation of childhood CNS tumors: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Lancet Oncol 8:685–695PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  72. Wisoff JH, Boyett JM, Berger MS et al (1998) Current neurosurgical management and the impact of the extent of resection in the treatment of malignant gliomas of childhood: a report of the Children’s Cancer Group trial no. CCG-945. J Neurosurg 38:258–264Google Scholar
  73. Yang HJ, Nam DH, Wang KC et al (1999) Supratentorial primitive neuroectodermal tumor in children: clinical features, treatment outcome and prognostic factors. Childs Nerv Syst 15:377–383PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar

Copyright information

© Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2012

Authors and Affiliations

  1. 1.Department of Pediatrics, Division of Hematology/OncologyOregon Health and Science UniversityPortlandUSA
  2. 2.Department of Pediatrics, Division of Hematology/OncologyOregon Health and Science UniversityPortlandUSA

Personalised recommendations