Pediatric brain tumors

Primary brain tumors, the most common malignancies of children, also are the most frequent cause of cancer-related deaths in this population [1,2]. Recent advances in cellular and molecular biology and diagnostic radiology have advanced knowledge in diagnosis, classification, and treatment of primary brain tumors in children; however, therapeutic success has lagged behind that of other pediatric cancers. Treatment of primary intracranial tumors in children poses many difficulties. For some tumors, aggressive surgical resection, chemotherapy, or cranial radiation maximizes the likelihood for cure, minimizes morbidity, and promotes longer-term survival. These treatments, however, have potential adverse consequences that can have an impact on the ultimate level of neurologic function and quality of life of children who have primary brain tumors.