Late Effects of Treatment of Pediatric Central Nervous System Tumors

J Child Neurol. 2016 Feb;31(2):237-54. doi: 10.1177/0883073815587944. Epub 2015 Jun 4.

Abstract

Central nervous system tumors represent the most common solid malignancy in childhood. Improvement in treatment approaches have led to a significant increase in survival rates, with over 70% of children now surviving beyond 5 years. As more and more children with CNS tumors have longer survival times, it is important to be aware of the long-term morbidities caused not only by the tumor itself but also by tumor treatment. The most common side effects including poor neurocognition, endocrine dysfunction, neurological and vascular late effects, as well as secondary malignancies, are discussed within this article.

Keywords: brain tumor; chemotherapy; late effect; radiation therapy; stroke.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Central Nervous System Neoplasms / complications*
  • Central Nervous System Neoplasms / epidemiology
  • Central Nervous System Neoplasms / physiopathology
  • Central Nervous System Neoplasms / therapy*
  • Child
  • Comorbidity
  • Humans