Also known as: central nervous system (CNS) tumors
The central nervous system (CNS) is made up of the brain and the spinal cord. Together, these important organs control functions necessary to sustain life, such as breathing, heart rate, movement, thinking and learning. Important substances produced in the brain (hormones) stimulate and control many other organs in the body. Tumors that develop in this critical area have many unique properties and symptoms.
Brain tumors are not a single kind of tumor, but include several different tumor types.
As a group, these are the most common solid tumors in children less than 15 years of age, and account for approximately 20% of all cancers diagnosed in this population. Other important facts about tumors that occur in the brain and spinal cord include the following:
- Tumors can arise at any age in any area of the brain and spinal cord, although some specific types of pediatric tumors tend to occur more often in certain parts of the brain.
- Brain tumors are categorized by the type of malignant cell and by the area of the brain in which they develop.
- The terms “benign” and “malignant” as usually applied to tumors are not as useful when describing CNS tumors. Because the brain and skull comprise a “box” of a fixed size, even “benign” or slow-growing tumors can cause serious problems or eventual death if they develop in an area where complete surgical removal is not possible.
- Most brain tumors tend NOT to “metastasize” or spread to distant areas to other parts of the body outside the brain and/or spinal cord (CNS). They do, however, tend to recur locally, or spread to other areas of the CNS.
Typical symptoms of CNS tumors are directly related to the location of the tumor, how fast it is growing, and any associated tissue swelling that occurs in conjunction with the tumor. Parents often are the first to notice symptoms related to the development of a CNS tumor. Occasionally, the child’s teacher or physician may note signs and symptoms that are worrisome.
Typical symptoms of CNS tumors include:
- Headaches (frequent, recurrent), especially after waking up in the morning
- Vomiting, especially in the morning
- Eye movement problems and/or vision changes
- Unsteady gait or worsening balance
- Weakness of one side of the face
- Loss of previously acquired developmental milestones
- Weakness in the arms or legs
- Bulging fontanelle or increased head size in infants
- Tilting of the head or neck to one side
- Seizures
- Difficulty with speech or swallowing or drooling
- Back or neck pain, often awakening the child at night
Less common symptoms include:
- Changes in eating or thirst
- Growth problems
- Dizziness
- Lethargy, irritability, or other behavior changes
- Deterioration in school performance
- Loss of sensation in the arms or legs
- Loss of consciousness, without history of injury
- Changes in, or loss of control of, bowel or bladder
- Hearing loss, without evidence of infection
Patsy McGuire Cullen, MAEd, CPNP, Regis University
Reviewed and edited
CureSearch.org Medical Editorial Board
August 2007