Brain tumours in children. A plea for an interdisciplinary working group.

Abstract

A considerable number of high risk brain tumours require an interdisciplinary approach with surgery, radiation and chemotherapy rather than one single therapeutic regimen. Children with a medulloblastoma must be subdivided into four different risk groups depending on the size of the tumour, on the age of the child and on cerebral spinal fluid cytology findings. The treatment protocol for ependymomas depends on the location of the tumour and on histological grading. Pineal region tumours can be successfully removed; further therapy depends on the type of the tumour. Children with hemispheric high grade astrocytomas gain substantially from local radiation therapy. The GPO (Gesellschaft für Pädiatrische Onkologie) has most recently taken the initiative to found a pediatric neuro-oncology working group in order to establish and to evaluate different treatment modalities.