What are the options for treatment for pediatric brain tumors?
Surgery is the primary treatment for many brain and spinal cord tumors. Surgery is indicated if the brain tumor can be completely removed. It may also be indicated if only a portion of the brain tumor can be safely removed in order to relieve symptoms and decrease the amount of tumor that needs to be treated by chemotherapy or radiation. Image-guided surgery technology allows the neurosurgeon to see the brain in three dimensions and pinpoint the tumor with the aid of CT and MRI. Using this new technology, neurosurgeons are able to open the skull (craniotomy) using very small incisions. General anesthesia is needed to render the patient unconscious not only to shield the patient from pain, but to provide comfort and a quiet operating field for the neurosurgeons. Depending on the site of the surgery, there may be complications such as bleeding requiring transfusion, loss of certain physical and mental functions, seizures, postoperative weakness, nausea and vomiting, muscle aches and pain
