If your child is diagnosed with a brain or spinal cord tumor, you are faced with the need to make a difficult decision. Where to go for help? What is the first step?
Polymedex experts are constantly working with these problems. Each member of the expert team strives to provide your child with the right choice of clinic and doctor, which will give the best treatment result and a full life.
Polymedex works with the best neuro-oncology clinics in different countries and with leading pediatric neuro-oncologists. We offer clinics with the latest methods for treating brain tumors in children.
Tumors of the brain and spinal cord - known as tumors of the central nervous system (CNS) - are the most common type of tumors in children and make up about 20% of all oncological diseases in patients under the age of 15 years. There are many different types of brain tumors. They can be benign (not cancerous) or malignant (cancerous). For all children to whom we recommend a clinic for the treatment of various types of CNS tumors, our goal remains one - to choose the best doctors and the best clinic, which maximizes both the chances of a cure and the quality of life of the child.
It is where your child receives primary treatment that it is important to provide a good prognosis for its results. Complete eradication of the tumor without secondary neurological effects is critical to increasing the chances that your child will recover completely.
Different areas of the brain provide different functions of the body, such as movement, vision, speech and many others. Since the space inside the skull is limited, the signs and symptoms of a brain tumor usually develop when the tumor grows and destroys or presses on healthy brain tissue.
Symptoms of a brain tumor in children are very different, depending on the location of the tumor and its size.
Tumors at the base of the brain often cause headaches, vomiting, and behavioral changes, since they block the normal passage of cerebrospinal fluid, causing an increase in pressure inside the skull
Tumors at the surface of the brain can cause cramps.
Tumors that occur on the brain stem often cause weakness in the head and neck.
Keep in mind that the symptoms of a brain tumor often resemble the symptoms caused by other diseases. If your child experiences these symptoms and you have problems, talk with your doctor.
Clinics recommended by Polymedex experts diagnose tumors and treat children and adolescents with any type of brain tumor. Innovative treatment methods are selected for each patient, based on the characteristics of the child and the disease. Making the right diagnosis is the most important first step in order for your child to receive the most appropriate treatment.
After the child develops symptoms that may be caused by a brain tumor, examinations such as CT or MRI are performed. These tests help doctors determine the location of the e-type tumor and plan for either its removal or biopsy. Clinics also carry out DNA methylation - a diagnostic tool that significantly improves the accuracy of diagnosis compared to standard methods.
Tumors that form in the tissues and cells of a child’s brain are called primary brain tumors. In some cases, tumors occur in other parts of the body and spread to the brain with blood, but this does not often happen in children. The following is a list of some common types of primary brain tumors found in children.
Composing almost half of all brain tumors in childhood, astrocytomas arise from brain cells resembling astrocytes, CNS stellate cells. Historically, astrocytomas have been divided into the following types:
Recently, however, the traditional classification has changed due to molecular genetic markers, which have shown that they significantly improve diagnosis, prognosis and treatment.
Diffuse pontinium gliomas (DIPH) are highly malignant astrocytomas that occur in a very delicate part of the brain.
Surgery is often contraindicated, and patients are usually treated exclusively with radiation therapy.
Ependymomas develop from ependymal cells lining the ventricles of the brain (a series of cavities filled with cerebrospinal fluid). Children whose ependymomas cannot be removed completely by surgery are often treated with chemotherapy. Although there is no treatment specific to ependymoma, radiation therapy is an extremely important part of a generic treatment plan.
About 20% of brain tumors in children - medulloblastomas and other embryonic tumors, are tumors that, according to doctors, arise from undeveloped stem cells in parts of the brain. They are very malignant, but with appropriate treatment, many children can be cured. Medulloblastomas are usually accompanied by headache and vomiting. Sometimes a child changes behavior and worsens school performance. The diagnosis is made using CT or MRI and is confirmed by a pathological examination after surgical removal of the tumor. Treatment for medulloblastoma usually includes surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy.
Germ cell tumors, as the name implies, arise from germ cells, which, during the normal development of the embryo, form either in the ovum or in the sperm. As regards tumors of germ cells located in the brain, embryonic germ cells with blood enter the brain, where they are transformed into tumors. Most commonly found in children, germ cell tumors include several different types of tumors (germinomas, endodermal sinus tumors, and choriocarcinomas). Although their symptoms depend on their location, tumors of germ cells in the pineal region are usually accompanied by headache and vomiting, especially in the morning. Tumors in the pituitary gland are usually accompanied by hormonal disorders, especially increased urination and thirst. Sometimes a child will show behavioral changes and poor school performance. Most of them are malignant tumors, but they can often be cured with the help of modern methods of treatment, which may include surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy.
Diffuse internal pontin glioma or DIPG is a rare and aggressive malignancy that grows in the brain stem, the area connecting the brain to the spinal cord. DIPG is usually diagnosed between the ages of five and seven; it is one of the most aggressive CNS tumors.
Because of their fast-growing nature, symptoms appear very quickly and often intensify. DIPG usually causes problems with the child’s vision and balance.
To treat all types of cancer, doctors use the body’s natural immune system and direct it to the cancer cells: they fight the malignant disease just like the body does with the virus.
As for neuroblastoma immunotherapy, monoclonal antibodies developed in the laboratory detect and destroy cancer cells that have survived chemo or radiation therapy. Thanks to advances in treatment, more than 50% of children who are treated in clinics defeat neuroblastoma compared with less than 5% in the 1980s.
From time to time, pathologists diagnose a certain type of tumors of the central nervous system, which are rare. Working with partner clinics around the world, our team of doctors offers clinics where rare cases are treated. Examples of these tumors are: atypical teratoid / rhabdoid tumor (AT / RT), choroid plexus carcinoma, dimbrioplastic neuroepithelial tumors and craniopharyngioma.
Clinics recommended by Polymedex offer patients the most advanced genetic tests. These tests find genetic mutations and other changes that can cause cancer. They can provide a lot of information that is important for diagnosis, prognosis and the selection of the right treatment.
Clinics recommended by Polymedex offer treatment for each type of tumor of the brain and spinal cord. A team of experts will work, together with the clinic’s doctors, with your family to create a personalized treatment plan. The clinic attracts neuro-oncologists, neurosurgeons, neurologists, radiation oncologists, and neuroradiologists to treat your child.
This team of doctors works together to achieve the best result for your child, does everything possible to give your child the best chance of recovery and a high quality of life.
A child’s recovery depends on a number of factors. They include the type of tumor and its location and, the spread of the tumor to other parts of the body (metastasis). Polymedex experts work with you every step of the way to guarantee you information and support during and after treatment.
We understand that you may have questions and doubts about your child’s treatment plan. Our doctors are available around the clock, seven days a week, to answer your questions.
The best treatment results for children with brain and spinal cord tumors depend on the right treatment tactics. Our goal is to choose the most effective treatment with minimal risk. Recommended pediatric neurosurgeons are among the most experienced in this area. They are well-known specialists who use the most modern methods of treating brain and spinal cord tumors in children.
The goal of radiation therapy is to safely reduce or eliminate neoplasms, including those that cannot be removed surgically. There are many types of radiation therapy and surgery. The treatment methods that are most suitable for your child depend on the type of cancer, the location of the tumor, and whether it has spread to other parts of the body. For children who can benefit from radiation therapy, we are very careful to protect as much healthy tissue as possible. New methods and a high level of knowledge allow our pediatric radiation oncologists to more effectively treat brain and spinal tumors. Thus, we can eliminate the tumor with the least damage to healthy cells and with the least risk of side effects.
Stereotactic radiosurgery: This specialized form of treatment provides a high dose of radiation. Usually it takes from one to five sessions instead of several smaller doses for a long time on a conventional apparatus.
Intensively modulated radiation therapy (IMRT): Using computer programs, we can calculate and deliver different doses of radiation directly to the tumor from different angles in higher, more effective doses. IMRT reduces side effects and minimizes the effect on surrounding healthy tissues and organs.
Intraoperative Radiation Therapy (IORT): This intensive treatment is performed during surgery. The device delivers direct radiation to the tumor, preserving the surrounding healthy tissue. IORT can treat tumors that are difficult to completely remove during surgery. This allows the use of higher, more effective doses of radiation compared to conventional radiation therapy. During an IORT, the surgeon can temporarily move neighboring organs, protecting them from radiation exposure.
These types of radiation therapy are available thanks to the innovative Varian system (USA), which is installed in advanced cancer centers.
Proton therapy: This form of radiation therapy has appeared recently. A narrow beam destroys tumors, delivering charged particles, protons, directly to cancer cells. The ultra-precise nature of proton therapy minimizes radiation exposure near healthy tissue. It also reduces the risk of side effects. Unfortunately, due to the high cost, this type of treatment is not yet available to everyone.
Stereotactic radiosurgery on EDGE Varian devices is the pinnacle of achievements in oncology at the moment.
Chemotherapy is the use of medications to kill, stop, or slow the spread of cancer cells. Chemotherapy may be effective for certain types of brain and spinal cord tumors. There are many chemotherapeutic drugs. If our doctors recommend chemotherapy for your child, we draw up a personalized treatment plan that gives you the best chance of a successful treatment.
In addition to traditional biopsies, we recommend studying the genetic mutations of the tumor and its molecular composition. These tests may provide information that can help clarify your child’s treatment plan. We offer the most advanced genetic tests.
We attract experts in all aspects of child development: academic, emotional and social. Brain tumors, radiation therapy, chemo- and hormone therapy can lead to cognitive impairment. Our specialists in pediatric neuropsychology regularly make neurocognitive assessments to notice any changes in attention, memory, or other aspects of your child’s thinking. We can identify the most likely causes and make recommendations to help the child. We can discuss any support your child may require at school due to these changes. In some cases, medications can help reduce some aspects of cognitive difficulties.
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