Brain tumor - symptoms in the early stages. First manifestations and diagnosis. Types of tumors in children

Among symptomatic remedies Treatment of brain cancer in children is used: to reduce swelling of brain tissue - corticosteroid drugs, to relieve attacks of muscle cramps - anticonvulsant drugs (anticonvulsants). All other treatment methods are aimed directly at the cancerous tumor. These include surgical removal of the tumor, radiation therapy and chemotherapy.

Chemotherapy is carried out by administering special drugs aimed at destroying cancer cells. These may be oral medications (in tablets or capsules), injectable medications that are injected into a vein, muscle, or artery, or cerebrospinal fluid. It should be noted that in most cases chemotherapy is prescribed after surgical intervention or after irradiation.

Treatment of brain cancer in children surgically performed by neurosurgeons of specialized clinics. To remove the tumor, a craniotomy or craniotomy necessary to access the brain is performed, after which the maximum amount of cancer-affected tissue is excised, but so as not to affect healthy areas of the brain and its important centers.

Radiation therapy or standard stereotactic radiotherapy for childhood brain cancer involves exposing the tumor to external radiation. It should reduce the size of the tumor. And after surgery to remove the tumor, prevent the growth of cancer cells remaining in the brain.

Until recently, radiation therapy was the method of choice when it was impossible to get rid of brain cancer through surgery. But now there is an alternative surgical removal tumors - three-dimensional conformal radiation therapy (IMRT) and radiosurgery using a cyberknife.

These non-invasive oncological technologies consist in the fact that the brain tumor is subjected to the most precisely targeted (thanks to computer detection and a clear image of the tumor boundaries) and optimally dosed radiation that kills cancer cells.

Chemotherapy for brain cancer in children

To the main medicines, which are currently used in chemical therapy for brain cancer in children include Carmustine, Temozolomide (Temodal), Lomustine, Vincristine, Bevacizumab (Avastin).

The antitumor drug Carmustine acts cytostatically, that is, it penetrates cancer cells, reacts with their nucleotides, inhibits enzyme activity and disrupts DNA synthesis. Thus, mitosis (indirect cell division) of the tumor stops.

Treatment is carried out by a doctor who determines the dose based on the level of white blood cells and platelets in the blood plasma. Carmustine in the form of a solution is administered intravenously; an hour or two after its administration, facial flushing (due to flushing), nausea and vomiting appear. Further side effects of the drug are observed, such as loss of appetite, diarrhea, difficulty and painful urination, abdominal pain, blood changes (leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, anemia, acute leukemia), bleeding and hemorrhages, swelling, skin rashes, ulcers on the oral mucosa, etc.

When treating brain cancer in children with Carmustine - like many other anticancer cytostatic drugs - there is a high probability of developing cumulative blood toxicity. Chemotherapy courses are carried out once every 6 weeks - to restore hematopoietic function bone marrow. Moreover, if this remedy has been used for quite a long time against cancer, the possibility of a “long-term effect” in the form of the appearance of secondary cancerous tumors, including acute leukemia, cannot be ruled out.

Temozolomide (others) trade names- Temodal, Temomid, Temcital) is available in capsules, acts on a similar principle and has almost the same side effects, as Carmustine. Use in the treatment of brain cancer in children under three years of age is limited. Medicine Lomustine is also indicated for oral administration. The dose selection for both children and adults with brain tumors is carried out by the doctor individually and is constantly adjusted during treatment - depending on the therapeutic effect, and also taking into account the severity of intoxication. Side effects of Lomustine are the same as those of Carmustine.

Cytostatic drug for intravenous injections– Vincristine - has vegetable origin and is an alkaloid of rose vinca. The dosage is individual, but the average weekly dose for children is 1.5-2 mg per square meter. meter of body surface, and for children weighing up to 10 kg - 0.05 mg per kilogram of weight.

Side effects during treatment with Vincristine are expressed in the form of an increase or decrease in blood pressure, convulsions, headache, shortness of breath, bronchospasm, weakening of muscle tone, sleep disturbances, nausea, vomiting, stomatitis, intestinal obstruction, atony Bladder and urinary retention, swelling, etc. However negative impact Vincristine's effect on the hematopoietic system is much less significant than that of the drugs mentioned above.

For relapse of glioblastoma, one of the most common forms of brain cancer in children and adults, it is prescribed antitumor drug in the form of a solution for infusion Bevacizumab (Avastin). This product is recombinant monoclonal antibody. It is capable of interfering with certain biochemical processes in cells cancerous tumor, block its growth. Thanks to the low volume of distribution and long period half-life Bevacizumab (Avastin) is used once for 2-3 weeks (intravenously and only by drip). Among side effects Bevacizumab increased blood pressure; gastrointestinal perforation; hemorrhages; rectal, pulmonary and nasal bleeding; arterial thromboembolism; leukopenia and thrombocytopenia; change in skin color, increased lacrimation, etc. But all these side effects do not have the same intensity as most drugs for drug treatment brain cancer in children.

Participation in clinical studies should be considered for all children with a brain tumor. Optimal treatment requires a multidisciplinary team of oncologists. Because radiation therapy for brain tumors is technically challenging, children should be referred to centers that have experience in this field.

Medulloblastoma and astrocytoma are the most common brain tumors in children.

Symptoms and signs of head tumors in a child

Nonspecific symptoms:

• weakness, reluctance to play, mental changes;
• loss of appetite, weight loss;
• low-grade fever, night sweats and vomiting.

Specific symptoms:

• signs increased ICP: headaches, vomiting on an empty stomach, disturbances of consciousness;
• seizures;
• fine motor disorders, ataxia;
• visual impairment: loss of visual fields, double vision, strabismus;
• paralysis;
• speech disorders.

Astrocytomas

Astrocytomas range from low-grade indolent tumors (the most common) to high-grade malignant tumors. As a group, astrocytomas are the most common brain tumors in children.

Symptoms and signs

Most patients have symptoms associated with increased intracranial pressure. The location of the tumor determines other symptoms and signs.

• Cerebellum: weakness, tremor and ataxia.
• Visual pathways: loss of vision, exophthalmos or nystagmus.
• Spinal cord: pain, weakness and gait disturbance.

Diagnostics

MRI with intravenous contrast is the method of choice for diagnosing a tumor, determining the extent of the disease and detecting relapse. CT with intravenous contrast can also be used, although it is less accurate and less sensitive. A biopsy is necessary to determine the type and grade of the tumor. These tumors are typically classified as poorly differentiated (eg, juvenile pilocytic astrocytoma), moderately differentiated, or fully differentiated (eg, glioblastoma).

Treatment

Treatment depends on the location and grade of the tumor. As a rule, the lower the differentiation of the tumor, the lower the intensity of therapy and the better the result.

• Poorly differentiated. Surgical resection is the primary therapy. Radiation therapy Intended for children >10 years old. For children<10 лет с не полностью удаленной опухолью применяют химиотерапию, поскольку лучевая терапия может вызывать долгосрочные когнитивные нарушения. Большинство детей с низкодифференцированными астроцитомами излечиваются, я
• Moderately differentiated. These tumors occupy a place between low- and high-grade. If they are closer to the latter, they are treated more aggressively (radiation and chemotherapy); if they are poorly differentiated, they are treated only with surgical treatment or removal followed by radiation or chemotherapy (younger children).
• Highly differentiated. These tumors are treated with a combination of surgery (if the location does not preclude it), radiation and chemotherapy.

Ependymomas

Ependymomas are the third most common type of CNS tumor in children (after astrocytomas and medulloblastomas) and account for 10% of brain tumors.

Ependymomas are derivatives of the ependymal lining of the ventricular system. Up to 70% of ependymomas arise in the posterior fossa; Both high- and low-grade posterior fossa tumors tend to spread locally into the brainstem.

Infants may present with developmental delays and irritability. Changes in mood, personality, or concentration may occur. Convulsions may occur.

Diagnosis is made based on MRI and biopsy.

The tumors are surgically removed, then an MRI is performed to check for residual tumor. In this case, radiation or chemoradiotherapy is required.

The overall 5-year survival rate is 50%, but varies by age.

• <1 года: 25%
• From 1 to 4 years: 46%
• >5 years: 70%

Survival also depends on how effectively tumors can be removed (51-80% with complete or nearly complete resection versus 0-26% with excision<90%). Выжившие дети имеют риск развития неврологических нарушений.

Medulloblastoma

Most often it occurs at the age of 5-7 years, but can also appear in adolescence, more often in boys. Medulloblastoma is a type of primitive neuroectodermal tumor (PNET).

The etiology is unclear, but medulloblastoma may present with certain syndromes (eg, Gorlin syndrome, Turcotte syndrome).

Patients most commonly present with vomiting, headache, nausea, vision changes (eg, double vision), and unsteady gait or clumsiness.
MRI with gadolinium contrast is the modality of choice for initial detection. A biopsy confirms the diagnosis. Once the diagnosis is established, an MRI of the entire spine is performed along with a lumbar puncture to collect cerebrospinal fluid to check for tumor spread into the spinal canal.

Treatment includes surgical removal, radiation and chemotherapy. Children under 3 years of age can be effectively treated with chemotherapy alone. Combination therapy usually provides the best long-term survival.

The prognosis depends on the grade, histological type and biological (eg, histological, cytogenetic, molecular) parameters of the tumor and the age of the patient.

• >3 years: The probability of 5-year disease-free survival is 50-60% if the tumor is high-risk (disseminated), and 80% if the tumor is intermediate-risk (not disseminated).
• <3 лет: прогноз более пессимистичный, отчасти потому, что до 40% пациентов имеют диссеменированную стадию на момент постановки диагноза. Выжившие дети находятся под угрозой развития тяжелого длительного нейрокогнитивного дефицита (например, памяти, вербального обучения и исполнительных функций).

Monitoring the patient

Monitor for the appearance of neurological disorders:

• level of consciousness, loss of functions;
• paresis, loss of visual fields;
• disturbances in speech, vision, pupillary reactions, headaches;
• convulsive attacks (local or generalized).

Watch for signs of increased ICP:

• clouding of consciousness;
• vomiting, autonomic disorders;
• bradycardia, apnea, respiratory arrest.

Carefully monitor blood pressure, pulse, temperature and respiration. Measure head circumference in young children. Maintain water balance, take into account the risk of developing diabetes insipidus.

Intracranial neoplasms are common. Out of 1000 oncologies, 15 are with a similar localization. Intracranial space-occupying formations threaten human health and life. If treatment is not started in time, the consequence is inevitable death.

Causes of brain tumor

The disease can be secondary or primary. If there is oncology, the blood flow carries cancer cells throughout the body, and a secondary disease begins to develop. It is not considered as independent. The reasons leading to the occurrence of primary pathology are poorly understood. The only identified culprit of the disease is radiation. The remaining risk factors do not have full scientific confirmation in neurology.

Causes of oncology:

1. Heredity (Gorlin, Turco syndromes).
2. Papillomas type 16, 18.
3. Age characteristics (children 3–12 years old, adults over 45).
4. Disorders of intrauterine development.
5. Radiation (electromagnetic, beam).

There are other factors that provoke the development of a neoplasm. A primary brain tumor often appears as a result of inflammatory processes in the body and decreased immunity. The factors listed above, as a rule, do not lead to the appearance of a bulk malignant formation, but can become a catalyst for it under certain accompanying circumstances.

Classification

Brain neoplasms account for up to 5% of all brain lesions. They are grouped according to the degree of malignancy, localization (trunk, hypothalamus, cerebellum), histological composition and other properties. Based on histology, brain tumors are divided into 4 groups. Each is assigned an ICD code. According to statistics, up to 60% of neoplasms are oncological.

Classification of neoplasmsby name of the affected tissue:

1. Neuromas. Formations in the cranial and paraspinal nerves.
2. Meningiomas. Neoplasms in the meninges.
3. Neuroepithelial formations:

• astrocytomas;
• oligodendrogliomas;
• gliomas;
• glial formations;
• gliosarcoma;
• glioblastoma;
• gangliogliomas;
• anaplastic ependymoma;
• pineoblastoma, etc.

Benign

Such diseases (dermoid cyst, solid cystic neoplasms, etc.) require no less attention than cancer. A tumor in the brain can be benign or malignant, but this division is very arbitrary. The volume of the skull is small. Cells of a benign formation, growing, crowd nearby tissues. Because of this, intracranial pressure increases and significant nerve centers are damaged.

Benign brain tumor, like cancer, is dangerous for the human body. Regardless of the type, it is necessary to promptly identify a head tumor and begin to treat the patient. In this case, a positive prognosis is often given. Half of all benign neoplasms can be successfully treated, but if nothing is done, there is a possibility of their degeneration into oncology.

Malignant

Cancer is prone to growth and is rarely curable. The prognosis is always serious. There are no effective ways to prevent cancer, and it is difficult to diagnose and treat. Volumetric formations are divided into 4 classes. The greatest threat is stage III and IV cancer. It grows rapidly and often becomes multiform. Unlike cancer of other parts of the body,malignant brain tumornot prone to metastases. The rapid spread of pathological cells in the organ itself is not excluded.

Symptoms

The disease manifests itself with a variety of symptoms. It all depends on the area of ​​the lesion and the size of the tumor. The main symptom is pain. Others are also observedsigns:

• pathologies of motor activity;
• high pressure (intracranial, ocular);
• deterioration of vision and hearing;
• depression, euphoria;
• dizziness;
• vomit;
• loss of appetite, etc.

At an early stage

Often the occurrence of pathology does not manifest itself in any way. Often the disease is discovered by specialists by chance (during tomographic studies, during autopsy). The first signs become noticeable when an overgrown tumor in the head begins to compress nearby tissues. Under the influence of the neoplasm, intracranial arterial hypertension (high blood pressure) develops.

Symptoms of a brain tumor in the early stages are:

• pain (80% of cases);
• visual impairment (70%);
• dizziness (50%);
• convulsive syndrome (30%).

Headaches

Cephalgia (headache) is a common condition. The question arises,How does a headache with a brain tumor hurt?You can distinguish this symptom from the manifestations of other pathologies only by knowing its signs:

• constant pain has a pulsating character;
• the intensity increases when changing position, coughing, blowing your nose, or minor strains;
• the pain intensifies in the morning and subsides during the day;
• migraine-like intensity;
• painkillers are ineffective.

The manifestation of symptoms intensifies in the morning, because fluid accumulates in the tissues of the affected organ overnight, causing swelling. Often headaches are accompanied by confusion, fainting and other symptoms. There is no need to waste time on traditional methods of treatment. If symptoms do not disappear after three days, you should immediately consult a doctor.

Diagnostics

First, a neurological examination is performed. The doctor will check how the organs function, the activity of which depends on specific parts of the brain. During a neurological examination, the following studies are performed:

• reflexes (knee, pupillary, corneal, etc.);
• hearing;
• tactile sensitivity;
• motor functions;
• coordination.

Further diagnosticscarried out using:

1. Various types of X-ray examinations (CT, MRI, pneumography, angiography). This is how the exact location, direction of tumor growth, and histological composition are determined.
2. PET (positron emission tomography). The method helps to recognize the degree of development of a brain tumor.
3. Neurosonography is a type of ultrasound. It is given to a child if the baby is under one year old.
4. SPECT (single photon emission CT).
5. EEG (electroencephalography).
6. MEG (magnetoencephalography).
7. Lumbar puncture, which is designed to examine the cerebrospinal fluid.
8. Biopsy - obtaining a tissue sample to be examined under a microscope. This analysis allows you to determine the type of tumor cells.

Brain tumor removal

The priority method of treating the disease is surgery. Due to the isolation of the tumor, the drugs do not reach their target. Drug therapy is used only for temporary relief of the patient’s well-being, together with surgical methods. Complete, partial or two-stage removal of the formation is possible. If the tumor cannot be completely eliminated, for example, with inoperable neoplastic cancer of the last stage, palliative operations are used to alleviate the patient’s condition, reducing the pressure of the tumor and fluid on the brain.

Removal of tumors is carried out in the form of:

• stereotactic method;
• craniotomy;
• endoscopic trepanation;
• getting rid of individual cranial bones.

Surgery to remove the tumoris performed using advanced surgical techniques. Non-invasive and minimally invasive interventions are possible. This reduces the risk of complications and improves the prognosis. Radiosurgery (gamma and cyber knives) is often used to remove a brain tumor. With the help of irradiation, tumor cells are destroyed without damaging healthy tissue. After removal of the formation, the patient is prescribed a course of rehabilitation.

Video

If your child is bothered and vomiting in the morning, this is an alarm bell that makes parents wary. It is possible that trouble has come to your family and its name is a brain tumor. Symptoms in the early stages in children vary depending on where it is located.

As the disease develops, areas that have an impact on the child’s life are affected. The future health and life of the child will depend on the timeliness of contacting a qualified specialist. Knowing the first symptoms of brain cancer in children, you can diagnose the disease in time and begin treatment while it is still developing.

Development and classification of the disease

Brain cancer in children is an uncommon oncological disease, accompanied by the appearance of malignant formations both inside the skull and on its surface. The formation of tumors that form inside the skull or spinal canal is caused by uncontrolled cell division.

New growths develop at a rapid pace, increasing in size and spreading to neighboring tissues. A benign brain tumor in children is located directly in the brain tissue, without metastasizing to other organs. Limited by the space of the skull, sooner or later the tumor degenerates into cancer.

Based on the main characteristics, a brain tumor is divided into:

• Primary. It develops initially from the tissues of the membranes of the brain.
• Secondary. The primary cause of tumor development is neoplasms in other organs, which over time metastasize to the brain.

It is customary to distinguish 12 categories of brain tumors, the symptoms of which in children are divided depending on the composition of the cells. There are about 100 types of the disease. The most common are neuroepithelial, pituitary, meningeal, dysembryogenetic and foci not formed in brain tissue.

A neuroepithelial tumor develops from brain tissue cells. This type includes,. The neuroepithelial type accounts for about 60% of all malignant primary tumors.

Meningeal types are provoked by abnormal uncontrolled division of the membrane of the brain; pituitary types are formed during the division of pituitary cells. Incorrect cell division during embryogenesis leads to the formation of dysembryogenetic tumors.

Symptoms of brain cancer in children are differentiated from healthy cells. The high similarity of neoplasms to the structure of healthy tissue facilitates diagnosis. When several levels of differentiation are detected, the development of cancer is detected by infected cells. The offensive and rapid course of the disease is characteristic of cells that are not identical in structure.

Brain cancer in children: stages of development

The patient's life expectancy is influenced by the degree of development of the disease. A distinctive property of brain cancer is the transformation of tissues in the central nervous system. To determine what stage of development the disease is at, it is necessary to carry out a number of additional diagnostic methods. Based on the results of diagnostic studies, further treatment is determined.

There are 4 stages of brain cancer development, each with specific symptoms:

• First or initial stage. When brain cancer is detected by symptoms in the early stages in children, doctors give a favorable prognosis. With timely treatment, complete recovery is possible. The first signs of a brain tumor do not particularly manifest themselves due to their slow growth, so it is almost impossible to detect them.
• Second stage. At this stage of development, the tumor grows, affecting some brain structures. At the second stage, signs of a brain tumor in children appear more pronounced. Nausea, headaches appear, and blood pressure rises. In addition, it is difficult for the child to concentrate, his mood changes sharply, and memory lapses occur. If the tumor is not detected at this stage of development, the child’s life is in serious danger.
• Third stage. At this stage, the tumor actively grows, penetrating deeper into the tissues and brain. Serious disturbances occur in the functioning of the nervous system. Signs of a brain tumor in children at the third stage of development are manifested by rapid weight loss, high fatigue, vomiting, and lack of coordination. In addition, hearing, vision, memory and speech deteriorate, numbness of the limbs and anemia are observed.
• Fourth stage. At this stage of development, cancer cannot be treated: . Irreversible changes occur in the body, and they affect not only the central nervous system, but also organs that are part of the area controlled by the part of the brain affected by tumors.

Brain cancer in children, in addition to the symptoms listed above, may be accompanied by complete or partial paralysis and impaired sense of smell. If the frontal lobe of the brain is affected, a personality defect is observed.

Localization and frequency of tumors

Malignant neoplasms in children can be localized in the hemispheres, midline and posterior cranial fossa.

In the hemisphere, tumors of neuroectodermal origin (gliomas) develop, which are part of a heterogeneous group. They are diagnosed in 37% of patients.

In the midline of the brain, chiasmal gliomas are diagnosed in 4% of cases - tumor formations formed from glial cells located in the area of ​​the optic nerve, in 8% - craniopharyngiomas, in 2% - pineal gland tumors.

In the posterior cranial fossa, brainstem gliomas and cerebellar astrocytomas are diagnosed with equal frequency (15%), medulloblastomas are diagnosed in 14%, and ependyomas are diagnosed in 4%.

A benign or malignant growth of tissue inside the skull is a brain tumor.

Today, out of 10 thousand children, every 1000th child is diagnosed with this pathology.

Every year there are more and more cases of the disease. In terms of frequency, it may soon become equal to leukemia.

Due to the growth of the tumor, the brain areas that control the vital functions of the child’s body are affected.

The cause of the disease is that cells in certain areas of the brain begin to divide incorrectly. The earlier a tumor is detected, the greater the chance of restoring and maintaining the normal functionality of all body systems. Therefore, it is important to know the signs of the disease at an early stage of its development. If a brain tumor develops, the symptoms in children can be varied, it all depends on the location of the tumor.

Symptoms in children such as irritability and moodiness are mental disorders that can be caused by a brain tumor.

Mental disorders appear due to brain damage by a tumor, due to cerebral edema, and increased intracranial pressure.

Some children demonstrate unchildish behavior.

Others become apathetic and foolish.

At school they begin to have conflicts due to irritability. Gradually they lose interest in studying, then in playing.

Due to cerebral edema, children feel unwell and weak. They may have headaches, so, especially in the evenings, they can be very moody.

If a child is often capricious, gets irritated over trifles, there is no need to get angry and scold him - perhaps the reason for this behavior is not a bad character, but a pathological process in the brain. Consultation with a pediatrician is required.

Nausea and vomiting

If the tumor is located in the area of ​​the posterior cranial fossa, the child may vomit.

This often happens in the morning, when he has not eaten anything yet. Vomiting is characterized by its suddenness.

A feeling of nausea does not always precede it. Vomiting is also possible with other tumor localizations.

In adults, a vomiting attack is preceded by a headache, which weakens or goes away after it; in children, “cerebral” vomiting is isolated. A child usually does not have a headache due to a tumor, since the bones of his skull are pliable.

Decreased or impaired vision

In children with brain tumors, opticoretinoneuritis is diagnosed. This syndrome has three forms:

• The retinal neurons and optic nerve are not atrophied. Ophthalmoscopy reveals hyperemia, swelling, prominence of the optic nerve head. Hemorrhages are noticeable in the retina, the veins are dilated. If the tumor is benign and grows slowly or is located paraventricularly, the symptoms are mild. With a malignant neoplasm, as well as a tumor that blocks the cerebrospinal fluid pathways, the symptoms are more pronounced.
• Secondary atrophy of the nerve cells of the retina and optic nerve. This form of the syndrome appears if the tumor grows very quickly. The retina and optic nerve are severely swollen. There is venous hyperemia of the optic nerve head, plasma leakage, and hemorrhage. If intraocular pressure is high for 2–3 months, the retinal neurons atrophy, and then the optic nerve itself.
• Atrophy of the retinal nerve cells is secondary, the optic nerve is primary. Vision quickly deteriorates, although fundus changes are minor. The tumor has a direct effect on the visual pathways, which affects the condition of the optic nerve, and fiber neurons atrophy due to the development of local hypertension.

Poor blood supply to the brain in old age is a common problem. Hence the diagnosis - cerebral encephalopathy. Here we will talk about risk factors for developing the disease and methods for eliminating them.

Problems walking

A tumor located in the cerebellum causes problems when walking.

The child’s gait may become “drunken,” with frequent stumbling.

Coordination and balance are impaired: it is difficult for the child to maintain vertical balance when walking. It is not uncommon to fall out of the blue.

Changes in speech and memory

If a child knows how to speak, but periodically loses this ability: instead of words he hums, pronounces meaningless combinations of sounds, most likely he develops a tumor in the left hemisphere of the brain. The patient may also hear noise instead of the speech of the people around him, without understanding the words.

The tumor causes psychomotor changes: memory is impaired, the child finds it difficult to concentrate on anything, he is distracted and irritable.

Convulsions

With a supratentorial tumor, especially if it is malignant, non-epileptic seizures are possible. Often attacks occur due to a strong increase in intracranial pressure. Over time, they can become epileptic.

Epileptic seizures

Epileptic seizures occur in 50 percent of pediatric brain tumors.

The tumor provokes an increase in the excitability of a certain part of the brain.

If the tumor is located in the posterior cranial fossa, “cerebellar” seizures are possible. They are characterized by opisthotonus, which is accompanied by disturbances in breathing, cardiac activity and consciousness.

If the doctor was not present for such a seizure, it is difficult for him to judge from the symptoms that were listed by the people who were near the child at the time of the seizure whether the seizure was a cerebellar seizure or a grand mal seizure.

Convulsive seizures in children, unlike adults, are not always signals of brain tumors.

However, such a seizure may precede the appearance of signs of a tumor, so after it a thorough neurological examination of the child is necessary.

Loss of consciousness

A tumor in the brain compresses its tissues and prevents the passage of impulses through them.

The brain tissue begins to work to the limit of its capabilities: the tumor compresses the blood vessels, and the blood supply to the cells is disrupted. As a result, the child loses consciousness.

This condition can also occur due to irritation by the neoplasm of the areas of the cerebral cortex responsible for the sensitivity of the organs.

Nosebleeds

The cause of nosebleeds in a child may be increased intracranial pressure due to a brain tumor.

Breathing disorders

When the tumor is located in the medulla oblongata, breathing problems occur. The same symptom is characteristic of a tumor in the fourth ventricle. Respiratory dysfunction occurs during a seizure.

Endocrine disorders

For example, cessation of its growth, untimely sexual development, etc.

Endocrine disorders are caused by craniopharyngioma. This is a benign neoplasm characterized by very slow growth.

In the first phase of development (the length of the phase is from 2.5 to 4.5 years), the tumor is located within the sella turcica and becomes the cause of endocrine disorders: dwarfism, obesity of the thighs and lower body in boys (female type of obesity) or pathological thinness of the whole body.

Due to the neoplasm, secondary sexual characteristics develop slowly, and hypotension is observed.

Endocrine disorders are signs of pituitary insufficiency.

Features of the clinical picture of a brain tumor in a child

For a long time there are no signs of the disease: in children it has a hidden course.

Thus, the tumor grows to a significant size and begins to manifest itself with general cerebral symptoms.

Neoplasms appear in cells that have not yet reached a mature form.

The asymptomatic course of the disease at the first stage of its development is due to the good adaptability of the child’s body: the lost parts of the analyzers affected by the tumor are easily replaced, and the cranial cavity increases, because it is still plastic and its bone sutures are not closed.

Due to a brain tumor, the head of a small child becomes spherical or asymmetrical (the side where the tumor is located may be larger), a network of veins is clearly visible on it, the fontanel is tense or swollen.

Older children complain of frequent headaches caused by high intracranial pressure.

Since we are talking about the brain, any neoplasm in it, benign or malignant, is very dangerous: as it grows, it compresses the neighboring tissues of the organ, which was created by nature to control all systems in the human body.

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