Diagnosis and treatment of pediatric brain tumors

Brain tumors are the most common form of solid neoplasm of childhood. Progress is clearly being made in the understanding and management of childhood brain tumors. There are possible biologic differences between histologically similar childhood and adult brain tumors. Chemotherapy is a major component of the treatment of many forms of childhood primary central nervous system tumors and is being used in attempts to improve survival and to delay or decrease the amount of radiotherapy needed. Despite the use of more aggressive radiotherapy approaches or intensified chemotherapy approaches, the outcome remains dismal for some forms of brain cancer. Many unsettled issues exist concerning the management of childhood low-grade gliomas.