Presentation and Evaluation of Pediatric CNS Tumors

Central nervous system (CNS) tumors represent about 25% of all childhood cancers, making them the most common pediatric solid neoplasm and the second most frequent pediatric cancer after leukemia (American Cancer Society, Key statistics for brain and spinal cord tumors in children, 2022). While the cause of most pediatric CNS tumors remains unknown, some genetic and environmental factors have been associated with increased risk. The clinical signs of pediatric CNS cancers differ depending on the tumor’s location, the patient’s age at diagnosis, and sometimes the tumor type. Imaging plays a crucial role in evaluating any patient suspected of or diagnosed with a brain tumor, with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) being the preferred method of investigation.