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Symptoms and Diagnosis of Brain Tumors in ChildrenBY: Ritu Choudhary | Category: Brain Tumors | Submitted: 2010-08-15 18:38:33
Brain tumors account for one quarter of all children with solid tumors. It is also possible to find tumors in infants. Localization can be done anywhere in the brain, unlike the long accepted concept. The varieties of brain tumors in children are: • The astrocytomas (40-50%) whose location may be in the cerebellum, cerebral hemispheres, the ventricles (the cavity containing cerebrospinal fluid inside the brain), basal ganglia (clusters of gray matter embedded in white matter) or other locations. The prognosis is good, but there are recurrences. If excision (removal) incomplete, the prognosis is rather poor. • The medulloblastomas (15-20%) are generally in the region of the cerebellum. The prognosis is relatively poor, it includes recurrences and secondary locations. • The ependymomas (8-10%) are located mainly in the brain region or below. The prognosis is poor, it is accompanied by relapses and secondary locations. • The craniopharyngiomas (5-10%) of localization in the pituitary fossa (cavity containing the pituitary gland). Their prognosis is good but includes recurrence and is often accompanied by hormonal disorders. Symptoms of Brain Tumor in Children • Headache (headache) • Dizziness and strange sensations in older children • Difficulties • of mood accompanied by irritability, aggression, sleep disorder (sleepiness during the day, insomnia at night) in the older child • Epilepsy seizures (sometimes) • Asthenia (fatigue more or less important) • The intra-cranial hypertension (increased pressure inside the skull) is found in virtually all cases. • Blocking the passage of cerebrospinal fluid (fluid in the ventricles of the brain and the spinal canal through the spinal cord throughout its length) • The worsening of intracranial hypertension is accompanied by macrocephaly (enlargement of the skull) sometimes asymmetrical (one side), a tension of the fontanelles (the child has eyes said "in bed sun"). • Ataxia (uncoordinated movements) • Hyper reflexes (reflexes excessive). Reflexes are movements obtained by the doctor when it strikes an area of the body, such as below the knee, with his reflex hammer. In this case, the leg straightens violently. • Stiffness and pain in the neck can translate anatomical changes of central nervous system (amygdala commitments). The commitment is the amygdala transition zone corresponding to the cerebellum through the foramen magnum into the cervical spine. • It may be false torticollis (tilted head position on the side) corresponding to stiffness and pain in the neck. • Maturity • puberty (onset of signs of puberty), obesity, abnormal fat distribution in the body. These signs are the result of hormonal disturbances caused by the tumor. General Mode of Diagnosis of Brain Tumors Radiography of skull may possibly show an increase of intracranial hypertension by a new provision of the cranial sutures (the junction between the different parts of the skull bone). Other changes in the skull, calcifications, distortion of the sella (area where the pituitary gland is located in the center of the skull) are also possible. The fundus can check if there is an impairment of visual acuity or visual field, but only after seven years. The EEG is sometimes normal, sometimes it helps to direct the diagnosis but it should not be a point of reference. The CT scan must be done systematically and urgently before any type of headache pain (headache) or repeated vomiting, when another source was found. It can locate the exact location of the tumor and assess its impact on neighboring areas. Generally, we find edema, and it helps highlight hemorrhage, calcification (mineral deposits). However, it does not provide evidence for the constitution of histological (exact composition of the tumor). MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) done after injection of gadolinium showed greater anatomical precision on the location of the tumor, its impact, its extension. This examination allows the other whether the tumor has a fluid composition or not. MRI is especially useful for tumors of low volume and when the tumor is located in the brainstem (part of the central nervous system located in front of the cerebellum and between the brain and spinal cord). Article Source: http://www.cancer-surgery.com/ About Author / Additional Info: I am not a cancer doctor. Always consult your doctor before taking any action or conclusion regarding your medical condition. Comments on this article: (0 comments so far)
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