Srivastava V, Pandey V , Meena RN, Shah AG, Meena RK, Singh OP*
Tumours arising from in and around the brain in which some cells grow and multiply uncontrollably due to loss of mechanisms that control normal cells growth. Because of the location, significant long-term impairment to intellectual and neurological function is possible. They can also be life threatening if not treated promptly. The cause of primary brain tumorsis unknown. However, primary brain tumours are the second most common cancer in children and the most common solid neoplasm of childhood, representing about 20% of all pediatric cancers. For example, between 2001 and 2005, 4,181children aged 0-14 years were diagnosed with cancer in Canada, and between 2000 and 2004, 676 died from this disease. The incidence of primary pediatric brain tumours is approximately 2.76 to 4.28 cases per 100,000 children. The reported incidence of pediatric brain tumours has been increasing over the last three decades, probably due to improved diagnostics. Refinements in imaging, surgical technique and adjunctive therapies have led to longer survival in children with brain tumours. As more children survive a cancer diagnosis, the need for long-term monitoring and follow-up care continues to grow.
