Hirntumoren bei Kindern und Jugendlichen

Every year, around 380 children younger than 16 years are diagnosed in Germany with a brain tumor. Different types of brain tumors are found in children compared to adults. Diagnosis is often delayed in spite of presentation with characteristic symptoms. Thus, unspecific, persistent symptoms should be followed up with further diagnostics. Since the 1980s, multimodal therapeutic regimens have been developed systematically by the Society for Pediatric Oncology and Hematology in the context of treatment optimization trials. Neurosurgery, chemotherapy and radiation are applied according to the histology, stage of metastasis, and age of the children. Currently, 80–90% of children diagnosed with a brain tumor in Germany are treated within the framework of the ‘treatment network HIT’. The principle aims are improved survival and quality of life, the reduction of therapy-associated toxicity and late effects, and better diagnostic and therapeutic standards. In this article, typical clinical symptoms, diagnostic recommendations and treatment strategies are described.