Physical exam and health history: An exam of the body to check general signs of health, including checking for signs of disease, such as lumps or anything else that seems unusual.There are two types of brain stem gliomas in children.Įven though DIPG and focal brain stem glioma form in the same type of cell, they act differently:

For information on treatment of brain tumors in adults, see the PDQ summary Adult Central Nervous System Tumors Treatment. Treatment for children may be different than treatment for adults. This summary is about the treatment of primary brain tumors ( tumors that begin in theīrain tumors, which are tumors formed by cancer cells thatīegin in other parts of the body and spread to the brain, is not discussed inīrain tumors can occur in both children and adults however, The skull and meninges protect the brain and spinal cord (left panel).īrain tumors are the second most common type of cancer in children. The tentorium separates the supratentorium from the infratentorium (right panel). The posterior fossa/infratentorial area (the lower back part of the brain) contains the cerebellum, tectum, fourth ventricle, and brain stem (midbrain, pons, and medulla). The supratentorial area (the upper part of the brain) contains the cerebrum, lateral ventricle and third ventricle (with cerebrospinal fluid shown in blue), choroid plexus, pineal gland, hypothalamus, pituitary gland, and optic nerve. Focal gliomas form in other parts of the brain stem. Most childhood brain stem gliomas are diffuse intrinsic pontine gliomas (DIPG), which form in the pons. In seeing, hearing, walking, talking, and eating. The brain stem controls vital functions such as breathing, heart rate, and blood pressure, and the nerves and muscles used Part of the brain and connects to the spinal cord, just above the back of the neck. The brain stem is made up of the midbrain, pons, and medulla. In brain stem glioma, the glial cells in the brain stem are affected. Glial cells in the brain hold nerve cells in place, bring food and oxygen to nerve cells, and help protect nerve cells from disease, such as infection. Gliomas are tumors formed from glial cells. Certain factors affect prognosis (chance of recovery).Ĭhildhood brain stem glioma is a disease in which benign.A biopsy may be done to diagnose certain types of brain stem glioma.Tests that examine the brain are used to detect (find) childhood brain stem glioma.The signs and symptoms of brain stem glioma are not the same in every child.The cause of most childhood brain tumors is unknown.There are two types of brain stem gliomas in children.(noncancer) or malignant (cancer) cells form in the tissues of the brain Childhood brain stem glioma is a disease in which benign.

Brain stem pons