If parents have concerns that their child is suffering from a cancerous brain tumor, then there are certain diagnostic steps that we will need to take prior to completing pediatric brain tumor treatment. For parents who receive the diagnosis of the possibility that their child has cancer, waiting to discover the extent of a child’s problem is an incredibly stressful time. Understanding the process and working with an experienced and thoughtful surgeon can make it easier. With that in mind, here is some information for your review. We invite you to schedule an appointment to ask additional questions in person.
First, we complete a biopsy
If the pediatric brain surgeon feels like there may be a brain tumor, he or she will complete a biopsy to sample the tissue. To get this sample of tissue from the brain, the surgeon will need to remove a small part of the skull. A pathologist will then view the tissue under a microscope to look for cancer cells. If the biopsy shows that cancer exists, the doctor will conduct a surgery to remove as much of the tumor as safely possible.
The pathologist is going to continue to check the cancer cells to find out what type of cancer it is and what grade of brain tumor. We can base the grade of a brain tumor on how abnormal the cancer cells look under the microscope. We can also use this information to measure how quickly the tumor will grow or spread. This information will further influence the treatment plan.
Immunohistochemistry
To complete a pediatric brain tumor treatment, it is important to understand exactly what type of cancer the pediatric brain surgeon is dealing with. We also need to look at how malignant it is, in other words, how quickly it may spread. To determine this, we will use a test involving antibodies that check for certain antigens in a sample of the brain tissue. The antibody is usually linked to a radioactive substance or a dye that causes the cancerous element in the tissue to reveal itself under the microscope.
Essentially, once the dye has been applied, the cancerous elements will light up under a microscope. This type of test is used to tell the difference between the different types of cancers that may affect a child’s brain. Based on what is learned from the immunohistochemistry test, a path forward and a treatment plan can be devised.
Other testing methods
Sometimes, during the diagnosis phase of pediatric brain tumor treatment, it is determined that a biopsy or a surgery, cannot safely be done, on the location, where the tumor is found in the brain. In a situation like this, the neurosurgeon is going to have to conduct other tests to detect and assess the brain tumor. The following testing procedures may be used:
#1. MRI with gadolinium
A procedure that uses a magnet, radio waves and computer to make a detailed picture of the brain and the spinal cord is known commonly as an MRI. When it comes to detecting a brain tumor, particularly in a child, a substance called gadolinium is injected into the vein, which collects around the cancer cells so that they show up brighter in the MRI picture.
#2. A physical exam
It is important to understand what kind of cancers are being dealt with. Sometimes, to determine if the patient has cancer, an exam of the body is conducted to check general signs of health including checking for signs of disease, such as lumps or anything else that may be out of the ordinary.
#3. Serum tumor marker test
There are certain substances in the blood that are linked to specific types of cancer. To detect these substances, and their levels, blood work is done which measures the amounts of these substances that are being released into the blood by organs, tissues or tumor cells in the body.
If they are found to be at increased levels in the blood, it can be determined that there is a specific type of cancer. These substances are called tumor markers.
Creating a treatment plan
Once information has been gathered on the tumor and tests have been completed to determine if it is cancerous, a pediatric brain tumor treatment plan can be developed. This requires the surgeon to make detailed recommendations and provide options for parents to consider.
Visit our clinic
Our extensive experience treating children with brain tumors makes us well-equipped to diagnose and treat your child. To learn more about the process of doing so, call and schedule an appointment. While here, we will examine your child and provide you with as much information as possible.