We encounter brain tumors in pediatric neurosurgery cases as well as in adults. Brain tumors are cells that can occur in all structures inside our skull (brain, cerebellum, brainstem, vessels feeding the brain, nerves coming out of the brain, membranes surrounding the brain, pituitary gland) and have a tendency to grow and multiply abnormally. These unusually occurring cells disrupt the working mechanism of the brain and spinal cord and manifest themselves with various symptoms.
Symptoms
The first and most common symptom of a brain tumor in children is a persistent headache. Other symptoms are as follows:
– Vomiting after waking up in the morning
– Feeling of weakness in arms and feet, slowness of movements, drowsiness
– Facial paralysis
– Seizure (epileptic seizure, foaming at the mouth, loss of consciousness)
– Vision problems (loss of vision, inability to look up, eye misalignment, difficulty looking left or right)
– Constant crying in babies
– Restlessness, loss of appetite
– Neck stiffness
Diagnosis
Definitive diagnosis of brain tumor is made with MRI imaging. Its shape, size and location are determined. Treatment is planned. From time to time, it may be necessary to take a brain biopsy both for diagnostic purposes and as part of treatment. This procedure is performed in brainstem and diffuse tumors. This procedure is performed in cases where removing the tumor may harm the patient or tumor growth is slow. Treatment can be continued with radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy.
Treatment
Brain tumors are one of the most common types of cancer in children. We have surgery, radiosurgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy options in the treatment of brain tumor. One or more of these options may be applied depending on the child’s general health condition and the type of tumor.
The general principle in childhood brain tumors is to clear the tumor as much as possible and then continue treatment with radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy. Radiosurgery (gamma knife) is also one of the options in the treatment of brain tumors in children. This treatment can also be applied to the right patients and tumors smaller than 3 cm.
However, treatment of childhood brain tumors is complex. From where? Although there are studies on using radiotherapy and chemotherapy in pediatric patients, it is known that these practices have great risks on children’s health.
Chemotherapy drugs have very serious permanent side effects. In radiotherapy, high energy X-rays are given. These rays can kill reproductive cells and stop their reproduction. It can cause permanent physical and mental damage to the child. In this case, the only option available is surgery. If the tumor is at an early stage, surgery alone is sufficient. Our child will recover. However, if the tumor is at an advanced stage and surgery is high risk, it may be necessary to first shrink the tumor with chemotherapy and then perform the surgery.
Treatment planning and risks are evaluated and handled individually for each child’s specific situation.
