Pediatric Central Nervous System Tumor

The MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) of the brain and spinal cord, lumbar puncture, and tumor biopsy are needed for diagnosis of pediatric central nervous system tumor. Immunohistochemistry with molecular testing is used to find the type of tumor and guide the treatment. 

There is no staging system used for childhood medulloblastoma, other central nervous system (CNS) embryonal tumors, or pineoblastoma.

Although the treatment differs according to the pathologic diagnosis, treatment of pediatric central nervous system tumor generally include surgery, radiation therapy (proton therapy considered in possible centers), chemotherapy, and high-dose chemotherapy with autologous stem cell rescue. Medulloblastoma, other CNS embryonal tumors, and pineoblastoma in children are treated based on the tumor type and the child's age. Treatment of medulloblastoma in children older than 3 years also depends on whether the tumor is average risk or high risk.