Introduction to Childhood Central Nervous system Tumors

A Central Nervous system tumor starts when healthy cells within the brain and spinal cord change and start growing uncontrollably, forming a tumor mass. The CNS tumor can be benign or cancerous. It seems problematic as the individual thought process and movements can be affected. The tissues around the tumor are often vital to the body’s functioning. The treatment of Central Nervous system tumors in infants and young children is quite challenging as the child’s brain is still undergoing development. The CNS tumor begins in the normal cells of the brain and spinal cord called ‘neurons’ and ‘glia.’ The tumors from neurons include medulloblastoma and primitive neuroectodermal tumors (PNETs).

Tumors that begin from glia include glioma, astrocytoma, oligodendroglioma, and ependymoma. The tumor’s specific name often reflects the Central Nervous system tumor’s tissue of origin. CNS tumors are described by grade and classified on a scale of I to IV (1 to 4). The tumor’s grade reflects whether it is likely to behave aggressively and is expected to spread to other areas of the brain and spine. The most common type of CNS tumors among children includes Astrocytoma, Brain stem glioma, Ependymoma, Germ cell tumor, and Medulloblastoma.

The spinal cord comprises nerves that carry information back and forth between the body and the brain. The brain is the Centre of thought, memory, and emotion. It controls the five senses, including smell, touch, taste, hearing, and sight. It also controls movement and other essential functions of the body, including heartbeat, circulation, and breathing.

The spinal cord comprises nerves that carry information back and forth between the body and the brain. The brain is the Centre of thought, memory, and emotion. It controls the five senses, including smell, touch, taste, hearing, and sight. It also controls movement and other essential functions of the body, including heartbeat, circulation, and breathing.

The brain has three parts: the cerebrum, the brainstem and the cerebellum. The meninges are protective layers around the brain that are also considered a part of the brain. 

• The cerebrum – The cerebrum is the most significant part of the brain, having two hemispheres; the right and left. It is divided into four lobes performing specific functions.
  • The frontal lobe controls reasoning, emotion, problem-solving, movement and expressive speech.
  • The parietal lobe controls sensations to touch, such as pressure, pain and temperature. It also controls part of speech, visual-spatial orientation and calculation.
  • The temporal lobe controls special senses such as hearing, speech comprehension and memory.
  • The occipital lobe controls vision.
• The cerebellum is mainly responsible for coordination and balance and controls function on the same side of the body. 
• The Brain Stem – This part of the brain connects the spinal cord and the cerebellum. It controls involuntary actions essential for our lives, such as breathing and beating the heart. 
• Meninges are three-layered, comprising dura mater, arachnoid and pia mater surrounding the brain and spinal cord. The cerebrospinal fluid or CSF is made near the brain’s lateral ventricles. The Cerebrospinal fluid flows between the arachnoid and pia layers around the brain and spinal cord.

When a tumor begins in Central Nervous system

A Central Nervous system tumor starts when healthy cells within the brain and spinal cord change and start growing uncontrollably, forming a tumor mass ^​1​. A CNS tumor can be benign or cancerous. Benign cancer usually grows but remains confined to its original location. A cancerous tumor that is malignant spreads to other parts of the body. 

A CNS tumor is especially problematic because a person’s thought processes and movements may be affected. And the tissues around the tumor are often vital to the body’s functioning. Treating Central Nervous system tumors in infants and young children can be especially challenging because a child’s brain is still undergoing development. Doctors must consider all these factors in creating the best treatment plan for each child with a CNS tumor. 

Types of CNS tumors in children

In most instances, CNS tumors start in the normal cells of the brain and spinal cord called ‘neurons’ and ‘glia.’ Tumors that start from neurons include medulloblastoma and primitive neuroectodermal tumors (PNETs) ^​2​. Tumors that begin from glia include glioma, astrocytoma, oligodendroglioma, and ependymoma. The tumor’s specific name often reflects the Central Nervous system tumor’s tissue of origin. 

In addition to the tumor’s name, CNS tumors are described by grade. Each tumor is given a grade on a scale of I to IV (1 to 4). The tumor’s grade reflects whether it is likely to behave aggressively and is expected to spread to other areas of the brain and spine. 

The following types of Central Nervous system tumors are most common among children ^​3​:

• Astrocytoma
• Brain stem glioma
• Ependymoma
• Germ cell tumor
• Medulloblastoma