Other common tumours
Useful Information about
Other Common Brain Tumours
We’ve focused on the most common types of brain tumours in other pages in this section, but here is some detail on four other types. These tumours can still impact lives significantly and deserve greater awareness.
Remember, if your child has been diagnosed with one of these brain tumours, OSCAR’s is here to help you on this journey.
Pilocytic Astrocytoma
These are low-grade (not aggressive) and therefore slow-growing tumours. These usually develop in the optic nerve and the back of the brain in the cerebellum, which controls balance and coordination. These tumours develop from star-shaped cells called astrocytes. Pilocytic Astrocytomas rarely spread to nearby tissues, but the tumour can press against the central nervous system in the brain, which can cause problems.
The most common symptoms are:
- Seizures
- Nausea and dizziness
- Issues with balance
- Double vision
- Personality or behavioural changes
- Feeling fatigued and weak
In cases where the tumour is small and not causing any symptoms, doctors may choose to just observe it.
Optic Pathway Glioma
These are a type of pilocytic astrocytoma. These brain tumours affect the optic nerves, which carry information from the eye to the brain. It is commonly slow-growing but as it does it presses on the optic nerve causing the child’s vision to worsen.
The most common symptoms are:
- Blurred or double vision Loss of peripheral vision
- Abnormal eye movements (nystagmus)
- Eye misalignment (strabismus)
- Headaches
- Behavioural changes
Atypical Teratoid / Rhabdoid Tumour
These are very rare, high-grade (aggressive) tumours that develop in the cerebellum or brainstem at the back of the brain.They usually occur in children aged three years and younger. As with all tumours, the exact symptoms depend on the child and the size and location of the tumour.
The most common symptoms are:
- Headaches, particularly in the morning
- Nausea and vomiting
- Fatigue and a lack of energy
- Loss of balance, lack of coordination, or trouble walking.
- Baby’s head getting bigger (macroencephaly). This can occur in very young babies as the bones in their skull have not fused yet
- Irritability or behavioural changes
CNS Germ Cell Tumours
This is a rare type of cancer that develops from cells called germ cells. These cells are responsible for producing eggs in females and sperm in males. Germ cell tumours are most commonly found in the reproductive organs like the ovaries or testicles. However, they can also occur in other areas, such as the brain. They occur most often in 10 to 19 year olds. The most common place for CNS germ cells to occur in the brain is in the pineal gland or just around the pituitary gland.
Symptoms can include:
- Fever
- Early puberty
- Issues with breathing
- Chest pain
- Trouble with eyesight
- Pain in the lower spine
- Increased thirst and urination
- Increased hair growth.
Choroid Plexus Carcinoma
Choroid plexus tumours develop from a type of brain tissue called the “choroid plexus.” This tissue lines a part of the ventricles (hollow spaces) in the centre of the brain and produces cerebrospinal fluid (CSF fluid). In children, they are most common in the first year of life, but can occur at any time.
Symptoms can include:
- Fever
- Early puberty
- Issues with breathing
- Chest pain
- Trouble with eyesight
- Pain in the lower spine
- Increased thirst and urination
- Increased hair growth.
Read more about the different signs and symptoms of brain tumours – Click here
What kind of tests will my child have?
To diagnose precisely, your doctor will run some tests to figure out the size and location of the tumour.
The tests could include:
- An MRI scan and/or CT scan
- A neurological examination
- A biopsy
Read more about the different tests for brain tumours – Click here
Common tumours: What treatment will they have?
A specialist medical team will put together a tailored treatment plan for the astrocytoma based on your child’s unique needs, which may include the following:
- Surgery
- Radiotherapy
- Chemotherapy
To read our section on the different types of treatment – Click here
Please get in touch with us if you wish to find out more about the type of brain tumour your child has been diagnosed with, whether it is mentioned here or not.
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