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Stage Information
Childhood Central Nervous System (CNS) Atypical Teratoid/Rhabdoid Tumor
Refer to the PDQ summary on Childhood Central Nervous System Atypical Teratoid/Rhabdoid Tumor Treatment for more information.
Childhood Brain Stem Glioma
Childhood brain stem gliomas include:
- Diffuse intrinsic pontine gliomas.
- Focal or low grade brain stem gliomas.
Refer to the PDQ summary on Childhood Brain Stem Glioma Treatment for more information.
Childhood CNS Embryonal Tumors
Childhood CNS embryonal tumors include:
- CNS atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumors. (Refer to the PDQ summary on Childhood Central Nervous System Atypical Teratoid/Rhabdoid Tumor Treatment for more information.)
- Ependymoblastomas.
- Medulloblastomas.
- Medulloepitheliomas.
- Pineal parenchymal tumors of intermediate differentiation.
- Pineoblastomas.
- Supratentorial primitive neuroectodermal tumors.
Refer to the PDQ summary on Childhood Central Nervous System Embryonal Tumors Treatment for more information.
Childhood CNS Germ Cell Tumors
Childhood CNS germ cell tumors include:
- Germinomas.
- Embryonal yolk sac tumors.
- Choriocarcinomas.
- Immature teratomas.
- Mature teratomas.
- Teratomas with malignant transformation.
- Mixed germ cell tumors.
- Nongerminomatous germ cell tumors.
Germ cell brain tumors usually arise in the pineal or suprasellar regions. Histologic subtypes include teratomas (both mature and immature), germinomas, choriocarcinomas, and nongerminomatous germ cell tumors (i.e., embryonal cell carcinoma, yolk cell or endodermal sinus tumors, and mixed germ cell tumors). These tumors have a propensity for subarachnoid spread. Every patient with a germinoma or malignant germ cell tumor should be evaluated with diagnostic imaging of the spinal cord and whole brain. The best method for evaluating spinal cord subarachnoid metastasis is magnetic resonance imaging with gadolinium enhancement. Cerebrospinal fluid CSF) should be examined cytologically and levels of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) determined. AFP and/or HCG may be elevated in the serum of such patients. Prognosis is related to histology; patients with pure germinoma have a more favorable outcome than those with nongerminomatous germ cell tumors (nongerminomas).[1,2]
Childhood Cerebellar Astrocytoma
Refer to the PDQ summary on Childhood Cerebellar Astrocytoma Treatment for more information.
Childhood Cerebral Astrocytoma
Refer to the PDQ summary on Childhood Cerebral Astrocytoma/Malignant Glioma Treatment for more information.
Childhood Craniopharyngioma
Refer to the PDQ summary on Childhood Craniopharyngioma Treatment for more information.
Childhood Ependymoma
Refer to the PDQ summary on Childhood Ependymoma Treatment for more information.
Childhood Ependymoblastoma
Refer to the PDQ summary on Childhood Central Nervous System Embryonal Tumors Treatment for more information.
Childhood Malignant Glioma
Refer to the PDQ summary on Childhood Cerebral Astrocytoma/Malignant Glioma Treatment for more information.
Childhood Medulloblastoma
Refer to the PDQ summary on Childhood Central Nervous System Embryonal Tumors Treatment for more information.
Childhood Medulloepithelioma
Refer to the PDQ summary on Childhood Central Nervous System Embryonal Tumors Treatment for more information.
Childhood Pineal Parenchymal Tumors
Childhood pineal parenchymal tumors include:
- Pineoblastomas.
- Pineocytomas.
- Pineal parenchymal tumors of intermediate differentiation.
WebMD Public Information from the National Cancer Institute
This information is produced and provided by the National Cancer Institute (NCI). The information in this topic may have changed since it was written. For the most current information, contact the National Cancer Institute via the Internet web site at http://cancer.gov or call 1-800-4-CANCER
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