Though rare, brain tumors are the most common form of solid tumors among children under the age of 15 and represent about 20% of all childhood cancers. Brain tumors in children are often located in different locations and behave differently than brain tumors in adults. Consequently, management of tumors in children varies from that in adults. Children with tumors may also have a much better prognosis than adults with a similar condition.
Understanding tumors: There are different brain tumor types and classifications based upon a tumor’s cell of origin, cell type, composition, a rate of growth and other characteristics. Most pediatric brain and spine tumors are primary tumors, meaning they originated in the brain or spine. In contrast, the most common brain tumors in adults are metastases, meaning they represent spread of a tumor located elsewhere in the body, such as the liver, breast,…
