Overview

In children, the central nervous system tumors complished through advances in the three main are exceeded in incidence only by leukemia and antineoplastic therapeutic modalities-surgery, are more common than any of the other malig- radiation therapy, and chemotherapy. Improve- nancies of childhood. Childhood central nervous ments in neurosurgical technique concomitant system tumors encompass a range of histo- with improvements in anesthesia and periopera- logic varieties from the histologically benign- tive supportive care have resulted in decreased appearing pilocytic astrocytoma to the extremely morbidity and mortality from neurosurgical malignant-appearing glioblastoma multiforme procedures together with an increased likelihood of accomplishing a gross total resection of and the undifferentiated primitive neuroecto- dermal tumors. Similarly, the biologic behavior tumor. Radiotherapy has evolved from using orthovoltage (200-250 KV) equipment to of childhood brain tumors varies not only ac- cording to histology but also with location of supervoltage equipment with much-improved the tumor and age. Unlike primary central nerv- penetration, thus allowing for the administra- ous system tumors in adults, many varieties of tion of accurate homogeneous high doses to childhood brain tumors have the propensity to large volumes without significant effects on the disseminate via the cerebrospinal fluid path- overlying skin and soft tissues. Preliminary data ways.