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Pediatric Low-Grade Gliomas: Diagnosis, Treatment, and Future Directions

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Book cover Tumors of the Central Nervous System, Volume 14

Part of the book series: Tumors of the Central Nervous System ((TCNS,volume 14))

Abstract

Low-grade gliomas are the most common brain tumor in children, accounting for 30–50% of central nervous system tumors in the pediatric age group. They can arise anywhere along the neuraxis and are a heterogeneous group of neoplasms with treatments and outcomes that vary widely by age, tumor location, and extent of surgical resection. Treatment ranges from expectant observation to surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy as single or combined modality therapies. Pediatric low-grade gliomas share a unique association with several inherited genetic conditions, including neurofibromatosis type 1 and tuberous sclerosis. Children with these genetic disorders have a markedly increased risk of developing low-grade gliomas during childhood, and the prognosis and treatment choices may differ substantially from children with identical tumors who do not carry these genetic mutations. Long-term overall survival of all children with low-grade gliomas is very good; therefore, the potential late effects of treatment must be considered carefully in making treatment decisions. As our understanding of the genetic aberrations in low-grade gliomas evolves, novel molecular targets are being identified that may allow for more precise, tumor-directed drug delivery.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Oncology, The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, 10th Floor, 3501 Civic Center Blvd., Philadelphia, PA, USA, 19104

    Angela J. Waanders, Jane E. Minturn & Michael J. Fisher

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  1. Angela J. Waanders
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  2. Jane E. Minturn
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  3. Michael J. Fisher
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Correspondence to Michael J. Fisher .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Kean University, Library building, Department of Biological Sciences, UNION, New Jersey, USA

    M.A. Hayat

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Waanders, A.J., Minturn, J.E., Fisher, M.J. (2015). Pediatric Low-Grade Gliomas: Diagnosis, Treatment, and Future Directions. In: Hayat, M. (eds) Tumors of the Central Nervous System, Volume 14. Tumors of the Central Nervous System, vol 14. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-7224-2_2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-7224-2_2

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-94-017-7223-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-017-7224-2

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