[A study group on brain tumors in childhood. Introduction, establishment and aims]

Tumors of the central nervous system account for 15.7% of all malignancies registered at the documentation center for childhood malignancies in Western Germany. This group constitutes the largest entity of solid tumors. With the exception of medulloblastoma the five-year survival probability of children with cns tumors in only 54%. Prognosis can only be improved by a interdisziplinary and multicentric approach. Recently, the "Gesellschaft für Pädiatrische Onkologie (GPO)" has set up a special Brain Tumor Study Group. Members of this group will come from several fields such as neuropediatrics, neurosurgery, radiotherapy, pediatric endocrinology, neuroradiology, neuro-/paidopathology, experimental neurooncology, medical statistics, and pediatric oncology. The major aims are standardization of current strategies for diagnosis and therapy including concepts for early diagnosis, aftercare, and rehabilitation. Moreover, it is planned to develop clinical and experimental research facilities and to establish a brain tumor research data bank.