Cite

Copy

Tap on and choose 'Add to Home Screen' to create a shortcut app

Tap on and choose 'Install/Install App' to create a shortcut app

Adjuvant Therapies for Brainstem Gliomas in Children

This page was last updated on January 25th, 2023

Adjuvant therapy for brainstem tumors depends on the tumor’s location, the pathological diagnosis, and the extent of previous surgical resection.  Indications for radiation therapy, chemotherapy, or observation alone are reviewed separately below for each tumor subtype.

Radiation

  • Focal gliomas of the brainstem: In general, radiation is reserved for tumors that have shown signs of growth and that have been found to be unresectable.
  • Dorsally exophytic gliomas: Radiation is used to manage dorsally exophytic tumors that are progressing clinically and that are not amenable to further surgery.
  • Diffuse intrinsic pontine gliomas: Radiation is the mainstay treatment for these tumors.
  • Cervicomedullary gliomas: Radiation is used for these tumors when further surgery is deemed not possible and clinical progression is being experienced or is anticipated.

Chemotherapy

  • Chemotherapy of unproven benefit: While generally used in combination with radiation, there is currently no proven efficacy for any chemotherapy protocol for managing brainstem gliomas.

Your donations keep us going

The ISPN Guide is free to use, but we rely on donations to fund our ongoing work and to maintain more than a thousand pages of information created to disseminate the most up-to-date knowledge in the field of paediatric neurosurgery.

By making a donation to The ISPN Guide you are also indirectly helping the many thousands of children around the world whose treatment depends on well-informed surgeons.

Please consider making a donation today.

Use the app

The ISPN Guide can be used as a standalone app, both on mobile devices and desktop computers. It’s quick and easy to use.

Fully featured

Free registration grants you full access to The Guide and host of featured designed to help further your own education.

Stay updated

The ISPN Guide continues to expand both in breadth and depth. Join our mailing list to stay up-to-date with our progress.