Treatment of brain tumors in babies and very young children

Approximately 13% of brain tumors in childhood occur in children less than 2 years of age. Although the survivals of older children with certain forms of brain tumors have increased over the past 20 years, this treatment has been least effective in very young children with brain tumors. These poor survival rates may be due in part to the highly malignant nature of the neoplasms; the delay in diagnosis because of low index of suspicion; the large bulk of tumor found at presentation, and the reduction in radiation dosage to the central nervous system. Since standard treatment has produced both poor results and severe neurotoxicity, new approaches have been sought. A conservative approach is recommended in some children with optic gliomas and low-grade supratentorial astrocytomas. Radiation is deferred until the child reaches 3-4 years of age when he can better tolerate its effects on the CNS. Current therapy of malignant brain tumors of infancy is not only toxic, but inadequate. There are several centers which currently use postoperative chemotherapy and delayed radiation. Early results have been encouraging and neurotoxicity has been low.