II. Epidemiology

  1. Peak Incidence: age 3 to 12 years old
  2. Most common childhood solid neoplasm
  3. Second only to Leukemia for overall cancer Incidence

III. Etiology

  1. Cranial exposure to radiation
    1. Meningiomas
    2. Astrocytomas
    3. Glioblastoma multiforme
  2. Genetic Factors
    1. Family History in 19% of cases overall
    2. Family History in 30% of Glioblastoma Multiforme
  3. Associated conditions
    1. Neurofibromatosis
    2. Tuberous sclerosis
    3. Turcot Syndrome
    4. Li-Fraumeni cancer syndrome
    5. Von Hippel Lindau

IV. Causes: Tumor types (under age 20 years)

  1. Supratentorial (40%)
    1. Astrocytoma (8-12%)
    2. Glioblastoma (<5%)
    3. Craniopharyngioma (5-8%)
    4. Ependymoma (3-5%)
    5. Choroid Plexus papilloma (2-3%)
    6. Pituitary tumor (<1%)
    7. Pineal tumor (2%)
    8. Meningioma (<1%)
  2. Infratentorial (60%)
    1. Medulloblastoma (18-25%)
    2. Cerebellar Astrocytoma (15-20%)
    3. Brain Stem glioma (8-10%)
    4. Ependymoma (4-6%)
    5. Schwannoma (<1%)
    6. Meningioma (<1%)

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