Childhood Cancer
In the brain may have a variety of cancers arise.
Brain tumors can be very different places in the brain occur. There are also many different types of tumors in the brain. The most important occurring in the infant brain tumors include:
* Gliomas: Glioma is a collective term for tumors that are out of Neuroglia. As Neuroglia the supporting tissue of the skin and nervous system means. Gliomas are usually of the Neuroglia of the brain. Particularly common is a form of gliomas, the so-called astrocytoma.
* Medulloblastoma are also known as cerebellar worm “means.
* Ependymoma: From Empendym outgoing glial tumor. The Empendym is a single-cell lining of the glial cells of the brain and central canal of the spinal cord.
* Kraniopharyngeome, also known as Erdheim tumor is a tumor that is already in an embryo by an aberration in the field of Hypophysentasche forms (Rathke-pouch).
* Meningeome: Meningeome are slow-growing benign tumors that are of the meninges, the Deckzellen the Arachnoidea mater (cobwebs skin) of the brain and spinal cord out.
* Hypophysenadenom: Hypophysenadenom are tumors of the pituitary gland or pituitary gland. Some of these tumors produce hormones involved in the control and regulation in the pituitary intervene. An example of a hormone is the active Hypophysenadenom Prolaktinom, which is described here. A description hormoninaktiver Hypophysenadenom can be found here.
1 in 3000 children is affected.
The brain tumors represent 20 percent of the largest group of cancer in childhood dar. The frequency of occurrence of a brain tumor in childhood disease is 1 per 3000 children, with all age groups may be affected. The most common brain tumors but occur before the tenth year of life.
The symptoms depend on the type of tumor, from the place in the brain and the size of the tumor from.
The symptoms can vary greatly. They depend on the one hand by Tumortyp, on the other hand, the localization of the disease and the size of the tumor from. Very often, however,
* Headache
* Seizures
* Vomiting
* Disturbances of consciousness
Depending on the tumor localization are more symptoms:
* Cerebellum (eg, medulloblastoma, Kleinhirnastrozytom, Epdendymom): muscle relaxation, unstable walking, trembling and uncertainty during execution of movements, uncontrolled movements of the eyeballs, speech disorder.
* Brainstem (eg, astrocytoma and other gliomas): hemiplegia, eye and facial muscle paralysis, difficulty swallowing, mood changes.
* Midbrain (eg astrocytoma, Kraniopharyngeom, Hypophysenadenom): visual disturbances, disturbances of temperature regulation and fluid homeostasis, growth and sleep disorders.
* Cerebrum (eg astrocytoma, Meningeom, ependymoma): hemiplegia, mental disorder, sensitivity disorder, visual and speech disturbances.
Extensive investigations are necessary.
To diagnose a brain tumor, the complaints, physical examination findings and the EEG investigation (EEG: electroencephalography, a recording of brain waves) and X-ray examination, ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging findings of the head. Also, the investigation of nervous water (Liquoruntersuchung) may provide further clues. The nerve of water is through a so-called lumbar puncture, ie the puncture of the vertebral canal at the level of the lumbar spine obtained. A description can be found here.
The therapy must be individually.
The choice of therapy depends on the type of the tumor as well as its localization and size. In general, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and surgical removal include, alone or in combination. The prognosis depends on tumor, site and size, but also the age of the child: With increasing age of children improves the prognosis. 8 years after treatment are still alive 40 percent of children with medulloblastoma, 75 percent of patients with astrocytoma, about 10 percent of those affected with a tumor located in the brainstem and 70 to 80 percent of children with a Kraniopharyngeom.
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