Brain Tumors in Children

Brain tumors are classified and named for the type of tissue in which they develop. As a group, brain tumors are the second most common cancers of childhood. They may occur at any age, including early infancy and in adolescence, but are seen most often in children 5 to 10 years old.

Symptoms include seizures, morning headaches, vomiting, irritability, behavior problems, changes in eating or sleeping habits, lethargy, or clumsiness. Diagnosis is often difficult, because these symptoms can and frequently do indicate any number of other problems, either physical or emotional. If a brain tumor is suspected, diagnostic tests usually include skull x-rays, a brain scan, CT scans, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Treatment depends on the type of brain tumor involved. For the most part, surgery, radiation, or both are used. Anticancer drugs that can be given intravenously or orally and penetrate the brain and central nervous system are also used to treat brain tumors.

Each year, Medical College of Wisconsin physicians care for more than 180,000 patients, representing nearly 500,000 patient visits. Medical College physicians practice at Children's Hospital of Wisconsin, Froedtert Memorial Lutheran Hospital, the Milwaukee VA Medical Center, and many other hospitals and clinics in Milwaukee and southeastern Wisconsin.