What is a childhood brain or spinal cord tumour?

A brain tumour starts in the cells of the brain. A spinal cord tumour starts in the cells of the spinal cord. The brain and spinal cord make up the central nervous system (CNS). The brain is the control centre of your body. It is a soft mass of nerve tissue protected by a bony covering called the skull. The spinal cord runs through the spine. It contains nerves that send information between the brain and the rest of the body.

Diagram of the central nervous system
Diagram of the central nervous system

Cells in the brain or spinal cord sometimes change and no longer grow or behave normally. These changes may lead to non-cancerous (benign) conditions such as brain or spinal cord cysts. Cells in the brain and spinal cord can also change and form tumours.

There are many types of childhood brain and spinal cord tumours. Tumours can be non-cancerous (benign) or cancerous (malignant). A cancerous tumour is a group of cancer cells that can grow into and destroy nearby tissue. Although brain tumours rarely spread (metastasize) to other parts of the body, most brain tumours can spread through the brain and spinal cord tissue. Even non-cancerous brain tumours can grow and press on and destroy normal brain tissue. Doctors often talk about a brain tumour rather than a brain cancer. The most important thing about brain and spinal cord tumours is how fast they can grow and spread through the rest of the brain or spinal cord. In general, a cancerous brain tumour grows quicker and spreads faster than a non-cancerous brain tumour. Both non-cancerous and cancerous brain tumours can cause signs and symptoms and need treatment.

Describing childhood brain and spinal cord tumours

Brain and spinal cord tumours are classified based on their grade. The grade of a tumour tells you how quickly it is growing and how likely it is to spread.

  • Low-grade (benign) tumours grow slowly. They don’t usually grow into surrounding tissues or spread to other areas of the brain or spinal cord. Some low-grade tumours may develop into high-grade tumours.
  • High-grade (malignant) tumours grow quickly. They can grow into nearby tissues and spread to other parts of the brain or spine. Malignant tumours that start in the brain and spinal cord rarely spread outside the CNS.

Types of childhood brain and spinal cord tumours

Brain and spinal cord tumours are named or classified by the type of cell or tissue they start in.

In children, brain tumours often start in glial cells. Glial cells cover and support the neurons (nerve cells) in the brain and spinal cord. A tumour that starts in glial cells is called a glioma. There are many different types of gliomas, including astrocytoma, ependymoma and brain stem glioma.

Brain tumours can also start in other cells or tissues of the brain.

Tumours that develop in the brain can also occur in the spinal cord. The most common types of tumours that can develop in the spinal cord include astrocytoma, ependymoma and ganglioglioma.

Some types of brain and spinal cord tumours are more common in children, and others are more common in adults. Find out more about brain and spinal cord tumours in adults.

Brain metastasis

When a tumour starts in brain cells, it is called a primary brain tumour. Other types of cancer can spread to the brain, but this is not the same disease as a primary brain tumour. Cancer that starts in another part of the body and spreads to the brain is called brain metastasis. It is not treated in the same way as primary brain tumour. Find out more about brain metastases.

Expert review and references

The brain and spinal cord

The brain is a spongy organ made up of nerve and supportive tissues. It is located in the head and is protected by the boney covering called the skull. The base or lower part of the brain is connected to the spinal cord. Together, the brain and spinal cord are known as the central nervous system (CNS).

Astrocytoma

Treatment of high-grade astrocytomas such as anaplastic astrocytomas and glioblastoma multiforme, depends on the size and location of the tumour, whether the cancer has spread anywhere else in the brain, and the child's age, neurological condition and general health.

Brain stem glioma

The treatment of brain stem gliomas depends on the type of tumour, the size and location of the tumour, whether the cancer has spread to other areas of the brain, and the child's age and general health.

Optic and hypothalamic gliomas

Treatment for optic nerve and hypothalamic gliomas depend on the child's age, location of the tumour, extent of vision loss or other symptoms.

Ependymoma

Treatment of ependymomas depend on the size and location of the tumour, whether the cancer has spread, and the child's age and overall health.

Medulloblastoma

Treatment of medulloblastomas depend on the size and location of the tumour, whether the cancer has spread, and the child's age.

Germ cell tumours of the brain

Treatment of germ cell tumours of the brain depend on the size and location of the tumour, the type of tumour, whether the cancer has spread, and the age of the child.

Craniopharyngioma

Treatment of craniopharyngiomas depends on the size and location of the tumour, whether the tumour has spread, and the child's age and general health.

Choroid plexus tumours

Choroid plexus papillomas are non-cancerous (benign), slow-growing tumours. They are usually treated by surgery alone. These types of tumours often block the flow of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), causing a buildup of CSF in the brain (hydrocephalus).

Rhabdoid tumours

There is no standard treatment for atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumours (AT/RTs). Because these tumours are usually fast growing, doctors will use a combination of treatments to treat them as aggressively as possible.