Can Children Develop a Brain Tumor?

Children and teens can develop brain tumors. Though malignant (cancerous) brain tumors are the most common cancer in children, they’re rare, affecting just 5,000 children yearly.

Children can also have noncancerous (benign) brain tumors. Benign tumors don’t spread like cancer. However, they cause symptoms as they grow and press against structures in the brain.

Our THINK Neurology for Kids specialists — Shaun S. Varghese, MD, Cristina R. Marchesano, MD, Lorena Herbert, MD, Barbara Kiersz-Mueller, DO, Lauren Weaver, MD, Alicia Walls, MD, Sundeep Mandava, MD, Sherwin Oommen, MD, Patricia DeForest, DO, Robby Korah, FNP-C, Jennifer E. Martin, CPNP-PC, Tammy DeLaGarza, FNP-C, and Heather King, CPNP-PC — serve as an integral part of your child’s brain tumor care team.

As experienced pediatric neurologists, we evaluate symptoms and determine if your child has a brain tumor.

We then work closely with neuro-oncologists, neurosurgeons, and other specialists to manage symptoms, create customized treatment plans, and monitor your child’s well-being before, during, and after treatment.

Here, we explain the basics about children’s brain tumors.

Brain tumor types

Brain tumors may develop at any age, from infants to teenagers. The growth may begin in the brain, or a cancerous tumor can originate elsewhere in the body and metastasize to the brain.

Tumors grow in various brain tissues and are typically named according to the type of tissue in which they originate.

These are a few examples of the many possible brain tumors:

Gliomas

Gliomas grow in glial cells in the brain. Glial cells nourish and protect nerve cells and brain tissue. An estimated half of pediatric brain tumors are gliomas.

Gliomas may be benign or malignant. Slow-growing benign tumors cause symptoms as they enlarge. Malignant gliomas are aggressive, fast-growing, and challenging to treat.

There are different types of gliomas based on the type of glial cell from which the tumor originated. A few examples include astrocytomas, oligodendrogliomas, and ependymomas.

Embryonal tumors

These tumors are most common in babies and young children, where they start in fetal cells. They’re often cancerous, but may be benign. Like gliomas, there are several types of embryonal tumors based on the location of their origin in the brain.

Meningiomas

Meningiomas are less common in children than in adults and they’re usually benign. However, they grow in the tissues surrounding the brain and can get large enough to cause severe symptoms.

Schwannomas

Schwannomas develop in Schwann cells, which are responsible for insulating the nerves. This type of tumor most often affects the nerves that manage balance and hearing. They’re usually benign but can be malignant.

Pineal tumors

These tumors, which grow in the pineal gland, may be malignant or benign. The pineal gland is a small endocrine gland located in the center of the brain that produces melatonin.

Risk factors for brain tumors

Brain tumors can appear at any age, but they’re more likely to develop in children younger than five.

Some children inherit genetic syndromes that increase the risk of a pediatric brain tumor, such as:

• Neurofibromatosis 1
• Neurofibromatosis 2
• Tuberous sclerosis
• Gorlin syndrome
• Turcot syndrome
• Cowden syndrome
• Von Hippel-Lindau disease

Children may also have a higher risk of developing a brain tumor if they have had radiation treatment to the head or have a weakened immune system.

Symptoms

Brain tumors can cause a wide range of symptoms depending on the size of the growth and the affected brain area. All tumors, whether cancerous or noncancerous, place pressure on the nerves and brain tissue, resulting in specific symptoms.

The most common symptoms include:

• Headaches
• Nausea and vomiting
• Irritability
• Personality and mood changes
• Lethargy and drowsiness
• Seizures
• Enlarged head (in infants)
• Hearing and speech problems
• Vision changes
• Difficulty walking
• Clumsy movement

These symptoms may be warning signs of other underlying health conditions. Suppose you’re concerned about any changes in your child. In that case, our team will conduct a thorough neurological assessment and diagnostic imaging, such as a CT scan or MRI, to identify the source of their symptoms.

If we identify a brain tumor, we coordinate your child’s treatment and refer you to the specialists needed to provide the care your child needs.

Connect with us for help with brain tumor symptoms

If you have questions or concerns, book an appointment online or call the nearest THINK Neurology for Kids office. We’re located in The Woodlands, Katy, Sugar Land, Austin, San Antonio, and Lake Jackson, Texas.