What is the most common type of brain tumor in children?
Disease description:
My child was recently diagnosed with a pediatric brain tumor. I would like to ask, what is the most common type of pediatric brain tumor?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Zhou Xiaofeng
The most common types of pediatric brain tumors are mainly the following:
1. Medulloblastoma: This is a relatively common brain tumor in children, accounting for 15%-20% of pediatric brain tumors, with an annual incidence rate of 2.19-6.6 per million children. Medulloblastoma in the posterior fossa of children is a malignant glioma and one of the most malignant intracranial gliomas. It usually occurs in the vermis of the cerebellum and is common in children aged 5-10 years.
2. Cerebellar astrocytoma: This is a relatively benign glioma of the brain, accounting for 20% of pediatric brain tumors. It grows slowly, is well differentiated, and has a better prognosis. It typically occurs in the cerebellar hemisphere and is one of the common posterior fossa tumors in children.
3. Ependymoma: Ependymomas occurring mainly at the bottom of the fourth ventricle can affect cerebrospinal fluid circulation and cause increased intracranial pressure.
4. Brainstem glioma: Brainstem gliomas are typically located in the brainstem, especially the pons, and have a poor prognosis.
5. Craniopharyngioma: This tumor arises from residual embryonic cells of the craniopharyngeal duct and accounts for about 5%-15.1% of pediatric brain tumors. It is one of the most common suprasellar region tumors in childhood.
