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Surgical Principles in the Treatment of Pediatric Brain Tumors

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Radiation Oncology for Pediatric CNS Tumors

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Abstract

Contemporary surgical neuro-oncology traces its roots to Harvey Cushing in the study and treatment of brain tumors. Neurosurgical intervention plays a significant role in the management of brain tumors for tissue diagnosis through biopsy, and treatment through resection in most cases of isolated well-circumscribed brain tumors, often in combination with radiation therapy and chemotherapy. Neurosurgical consultation is almost always indicated for intracranial mass lesions in pediatric patients, and a general familiarity with principles of surgical management can be useful to the oncologist and radiation oncologist in providing appropriate counseling and creating a comprehensive multidisciplinary treatment plan. This chapter provides an overview of five important topics of surgical management and provides relevant clinical pearls: surgical approaches to brain tumors, hydrocephalus management, posterior fossa syndrome, steroid administration, and seizure management.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurosurgery, Texas Children’s Hospital and the Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA

    Eric N. Momin M.D., Mahmood Khan B.A & Andrew Jea M.D.

  2. Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA

    Eric N. Momin M.D. & Mahmood Khan B.A

  3. Division of Pediatric Neurosurgery, Department of Neurosurgery, Texas Children’s Hospital, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA

    Andrew Jea M.D.

  4. Goodman Campbell Brain and Spine, Indiana University, Indianapolis, IN, USA

    Andrew Jea M.D.

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  1. Eric N. Momin M.D.
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Correspondence to Andrew Jea M.D. .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Dept. of Radiation Oncology, Mayo Clinic Dept. of Radiation Oncology, Rochester, Minnesota, USA

    Anita Mahajan

  2. MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA

    Arnold Paulino

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Momin, E.N., Khan, M., Jea, A. (2018). Surgical Principles in the Treatment of Pediatric Brain Tumors. In: Mahajan, A., Paulino, A. (eds) Radiation Oncology for Pediatric CNS Tumors. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-55430-3_4

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