Pediatric brain tumors are a tremendous challenge for the treating physician. Their diverse biological behaviors, in the unique context of the developing nervous system, require fl exible and tailored treatment plans. In the last 20 years, there has been an exponential increase in our understanding of the molecular and genetic basis of human malignancy.
The goal of Pediatric CNS Tumors 2nd Edition is to provide a current, biologically-based perspective of the management of central nervous system tumors in children. Rather than present every tumor type in an encyclopedic manner, the common tumor types encountered in clinical practice are presented in the initial chapters.
The epidemiology, pathological features, clinical presentation, diagnosis, and treatment are discussed for each tumor type. We have separated high- and lowgrade glial tumors into separate chapters, mainly because the management and outcome for these two classes of tumors are very different. In the final chapters, many of the diagnostic and treatment modalities common to all tumors are discussed with an emphasis on emerging and experimental techniques. For the second edition, new chapters have been added: Rare Tumors (Chap. 11) and Late Effects and Palliative Care (Chap. 17). A valuable resource is the WHO classification of tumors of the central nervous system; the fourth edition of which was published in 2007 (Louis et al. 2007).
It is recognized that a variety of treatment strategies are utilized by many different practitioners and institutions. For the most part, the general management principles used at the University of California, San Francisco, are presented, usually in the context of standard therapy. Although this approach may underemphasize other equally valid approaches, we believe that the reader will benefi t from a coherent approach to the management of childhood tumors.
Contents
1 Low-Grade Gliomas
2 High-Grade Gliomas
3 Brainstem Gliomas
4 Ependymoma
5 Embryonal Tumors
6 Intracranial Germ-Cell Tumors
7 Craniopharyngioma
8 Neuronal Tumors
9 Choroid Plexus Tumors
10 Intramedullary Spinal Cord Tumors
11 Rare Tumors
12 Neurocutaneous Syndromes and Associated CNS Tumors
13 Modern Neuroimaging of Pediatric Brain Tumors
14 Current Surgical Management
15 Chemotherapy
16 Advances in Radiation Therapy
17 Late Effects of Treatment and Palliative Care
Subject Index
The goal of Pediatric CNS Tumors 2nd Edition is to provide a current, biologically-based perspective of the management of central nervous system tumors in children. Rather than present every tumor type in an encyclopedic manner, the common tumor types encountered in clinical practice are presented in the initial chapters.
The epidemiology, pathological features, clinical presentation, diagnosis, and treatment are discussed for each tumor type. We have separated high- and lowgrade glial tumors into separate chapters, mainly because the management and outcome for these two classes of tumors are very different. In the final chapters, many of the diagnostic and treatment modalities common to all tumors are discussed with an emphasis on emerging and experimental techniques. For the second edition, new chapters have been added: Rare Tumors (Chap. 11) and Late Effects and Palliative Care (Chap. 17). A valuable resource is the WHO classification of tumors of the central nervous system; the fourth edition of which was published in 2007 (Louis et al. 2007).
It is recognized that a variety of treatment strategies are utilized by many different practitioners and institutions. For the most part, the general management principles used at the University of California, San Francisco, are presented, usually in the context of standard therapy. Although this approach may underemphasize other equally valid approaches, we believe that the reader will benefi t from a coherent approach to the management of childhood tumors.
Contents
1 Low-Grade Gliomas
2 High-Grade Gliomas
3 Brainstem Gliomas
4 Ependymoma
5 Embryonal Tumors
6 Intracranial Germ-Cell Tumors
7 Craniopharyngioma
8 Neuronal Tumors
9 Choroid Plexus Tumors
10 Intramedullary Spinal Cord Tumors
11 Rare Tumors
12 Neurocutaneous Syndromes and Associated CNS Tumors
13 Modern Neuroimaging of Pediatric Brain Tumors
14 Current Surgical Management
15 Chemotherapy
16 Advances in Radiation Therapy
17 Late Effects of Treatment and Palliative Care
Subject Index