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Summary
Brain tumors are abnormal growths inside the skull. They are among the most common types of childhood cancers. Some are benign tumors, which aren't cancer. They can still be serious. Malignant tumors are cancerous.
Childhood brain and spinal cord tumors can cause headaches and other symptoms. However, other conditions can also cause the same symptoms. Check with a doctor if your child has any of the following problems:
- Morning headache or headache that goes away after vomiting
- Frequent nausea and vomiting
- Vision, hearing, and speech problems
- Loss of balance or trouble walking
- Unusual sleepiness
- Personality changes
- Seizures
- Increased head size in infants
The symptoms are not the same in every child.
Doctors use physical and neurological exams, lab tests, and imaging to diagnose brain tumors. Most childhood brain tumors are diagnosed and removed in surgery.
Treatment for children is sometimes different than for an adult. Long-term side effects are an important issue. The options also depend on the type of tumor and where it is. Removal of the tumor is often possible. If not, radiation, chemotherapy, or both may be used.
NIH: National Cancer Institute
Diagnosis and Tests
- Tests for Brain and Spinal Cord Tumors in Children (American Cancer Society)
- Ultrasound: Head (For Parents) (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
Prevention and Risk Factors
- Risk Factors for Brain and Spinal Cord Tumors in Children (American Cancer Society)
Treatments and Therapies
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Childhood Astrocytomas Treatment
(National Cancer Institute) Also in Spanish
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Childhood Central Nervous System Atypical Teratoid/Rhabdoid Tumor Treatment
(National Cancer Institute) Also in Spanish
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Childhood Central Nervous System Germ Cell Tumors Treatment
(National Cancer Institute) Also in Spanish
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Childhood Ependymoma Treatment
(National Cancer Institute) Also in Spanish
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Treatment Option Overview (Childhood Brain Stem Glioma)
(National Cancer Institute) Also in Spanish
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Treatment Option Overview (Childhood Craniopharyngioma)
(National Cancer Institute) Also in Spanish
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Treatment Option Overview (Childhood Medulloblastoma and Other Central Nervous System Embryonal Tumors)
(National Cancer Institute) Also in Spanish
Living With
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Children with Cancer: A Guide for Parents
(National Cancer Institute)
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Support for Families when a Child Has Cancer
(National Cancer Institute) Also in Spanish
Specifics
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General Information about Childhood Medulloblastoma and Other Central Nervous System Embryonal Tumors
(National Cancer Institute)
- Gliomas (Nemours Foundation)
Genetics
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Rhabdoid tumor predisposition syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics
(National Library of Medicine)
Images
- Craniotomy - series (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
Statistics and Research
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Cancer in Children and Adolescents
(National Cancer Institute) Also in Spanish
Clinical Trials
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Childhood Brain Tumors
(National Institutes of Health)
Journal Articles References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
- Article: Quisinostat is a brain-penetrant radiosensitizer in glioblastoma.
- Article: Molecular and functional profiling of chemotolerant cells unveils nucleoside metabolism-dependent vulnerabilities...
- Article: Microglia in pediatric brain tumors: The missing link to successful immunotherapy.
- Childhood Brain Tumors -- see more articles
Reference Desk
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Dictionary of Cancer Terms
(National Cancer Institute) Also in Spanish
Find an Expert
- American Cancer Society
- Find a Cancer Doctor (American Society of Clinical Oncology)
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National Cancer Institute
Also in Spanish
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NCI Designated Cancer Centers
(National Cancer Institute) Also in Spanish
Patient Handouts
- Brain surgery (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
- Brain tumor - children (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish