Pediatric tumors of the central nervous system (CNS) are the second most
common type of solid childhood cancer. As such, they have a major effect on the rates
of morbidity and mortality in children. CNS tumors originate from abnormal cells in
the brain and/or spinal cord, which can be classified as either benign or malignant.
They can be further subdivided into different categories based on several principal
aspects, such as tumor location, histopathology, and developmental age. Among these
various characteristics, age is one of the most consequential determinants for CNS
tumors. Specific groups between 0 and 21 years of age, for instance, have radically
divergent landscapes in terms of their tumor incidence and unique biology. Depending
on the age of the child, key case features may differ like the clinical evaluation,
medical diagnosis and prognosis, recommended therapy and treatment courses,
anticipated responses and tolerability to treatment, and management of side effects.
Effective teamwork is another crucial component for the successful management of
pediatric CNS tumors. In patient-and-family-centered care, ensuring a detailed
education of the children and their families, as well as their involvement in the
decision-making process where appropriate, is imperative. To determine the best
available options for the patient, multidisciplinary medical teams will often deliberate
over all of the possible procedures. The holistic care provided by these interprofessional collaborations for this vulnerable population will depend on the age of the
child, in addition to the level of patient and family participation. Evidence shows that
support and counseling of the patient and their family during the entire treatment
process can have a significant impact on outcomes. This chapter will review the
essential diagnostic and prognostic considerations of childhood CNS tumors, with
special emphasis placed on favorable therapies and treatments, including in-depth
discussions around the multi-faceted responses to treatment and the management of its
side effects. In particular, this content will highlight the critical role that age, and
interdisciplinary healthcare teams play in comprehensive disease management.
Keywords: Age, Brain, Central Nervous System, CNS, Disease Management, Multidisciplinary, Pediatric, Quality of Life, Spinal Cord, Tumors, Team, Treatment.
