Staging Childhood Central Nervous System Embryonal Tumors
Key Points
Treatment of childhood central nervous system (CNS) embryonal tumors and pineoblastomas depends on the type of tumor and the child's age.
Treatment of medulloblastoma in children older than 3 years also depends on whether the tumor is average risk or high risk.
Average risk (child is older than 3 years of age)
High risk (child is older than 3 years of age)
The information from tests and procedures done to detect (find) childhood CNS embryonal tumors or pineoblastomas is used to plan cancer treatment.
Treatment of childhood central nervous system (CNS) embryonal tumors and pineoblastomas depends on the type of tumor and the child's age.
Staging
is the process used to find out how much cancer
there is and if cancer has spread. It is important to know the stage
in order to plan treatment.
The cancer
has spread to other parts of the
brain or spinal cord
or to other parts of the body.
In general, cancer is more likely to recur
(come back) in patients with a high-risk tumor.
The information from tests and procedures done to detect (find) childhood CNS embryonal tumors or pineoblastomas is used to plan cancer treatment.
Some of the tests used to detect childhood CNS embryonal tumors or pineoblastomas are repeated after surgery to remove the tumor. (See the General Information section.) This is to find out how much tumor remains after surgery.
Other tests and procedures may be done to find out if the cancer has spread:
Bone marrow aspiration
and biopsy: The removal of bone marrow, blood, and a small piece of bone by inserting a hollow needle into the hipbone or breastbone. A pathologist
views the bone marrow, blood, and bone under a microscope
to look for signs
of cancer.
A bone marrow aspiration and biopsy is only done when there are signs the cancer has spread to the bone marrow.
Bone marrow aspiration and biopsy. After a small area of skin is numbed, a bone marrow needle is inserted into the patient’s hip bone. Samples of blood, bone, and bone marrow are removed for examination under a microscope.
Bone scan: A procedure to check if there are rapidly dividing cells, such as cancer cells, in the bone. A very small amount of radioactive
material is injected
into a vein
and travels through the bloodstream. The radioactive material collects in the bones and is detected by a scanner. A bone scan is only done when there are signs or symptoms
that the cancer has spread to the bone.
Lumbar puncture: A procedure used to collect cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from the spinal column. This is done by placing a needle between two bones in the spine
and into the CSF around the spinal cord and removing a sample of the fluid. The sample of CSF is checked under a microscope
for signs of tumor cells. The sample may also be checked for the amounts of protein
and glucose. A higher than normal amount of protein or lower than normal amount of glucose may be a sign of a tumor. This procedure is also called an LP or spinal tap.
