UChicago Medicine Comer Children's

Pediatric Brain Tumors

Daniel Alexander tumor patient

Families of children with brain and spinal cord tumors face great challenges, but finding comprehensive, compassionate care shouldn't be one of them. Our brain and spinal cord tumor program provides families with many choices of diagnostic, treatment, rehabilitation and support services so that each child has the best chance for a cure, as well as the best possible quality of life.

A Multidisciplinary Team

Pediatric experts from a wide range of specialties can be part of your child's team, including oncology, neurosurgery, endocrinology, ophthalmology, genetics, therapy and more. Expert physicians meet weekly to discuss cases, share viewpoints and weigh the pros and cons of different brain tumor management plans. Every brain tumor case is discussed in this Tumor Board meeting before treatment is determined.

Meet our Pediatric Brain Tumor Experts

Types of Brain Tumors

There are many different types of pediatric brain and spinal cord tumors. They can be cancerous (malignant) or noncancerous (benign). Although benign brain tumors are not cancerous, they may cause serious issues and can be difficult to treat. Malignant brain tumors have additional challenges, as the cancerous cells may move into adjacent parts of the brain and can spread to other parts of the central nervous system.

The most common types of pediatric brain and spinal cord tumors are listed below. However, our specialists have expertise in diagnosing and treating a wide range of tumors, including those not listed here.

  • Astrocytoma
  • Atypical teratoid rhabdoid tumors (ATRT)
  • Brain metastases
  • Choroid plexus tumors
  • CNS lymphoma
  • Craniopharyngioma
  • Cysts
  • Ependymoma
  • Germ cell tumors
  • Glioblastoma multiforme
  • Gliomas
  • Juvenile Pilocytic Astrocytoma (JPA)
  • Medulloblastoma
  • Meningioma
  • Neurofibroma
  • Neurofibromatosis related tumors
  • Oligoastrocytoma
  • Oligodendroglioma
  • Pineoblastoma and other pineal tumors
  • Pituitary tumors
  • Primitive neuroectodermal tumors (PNET)
  • Schwannoma
  • Vascular anomalies

Why Choose Comer Children's for Pediatric Brain Tumors?

We know that brain and spinal cord tumors in children often need to be treated differently than those in adults, and our team understands the unique challenges that children face and who have access to the most advanced therapies.

Request an Appointment

The information you provide on this secure form to request an appointment with a UChicago Medicine pediatric expert will enable us to assist you as efficiently as possible. A representative will contact you within one to two business days to help you schedule an appointment. 

To speak to someone directly, please call 773-702-6169. If you have symptoms of an urgent nature, please call your doctor or go to the emergency room immediately.

For Referring Physicians

To refer a pediatric patient for cancer care, please call UCM Physician Connect at 1-800-824-2282. 

 

By submitting this form you acknowledge the risk of sending this information by email and agree not to hold the University of Chicago or University of Chicago Medical Center liable for any damages you may incur as a result of the transfer or use of this information. The use or transmittal of this form does not create a physician-contact relationship. More information regarding the confidentiality of this request can be found in our Privacy Policy.

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Pediatric Brain Tumors
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By submitting this form you acknowledge the risk of sending this information by email and agree not to hold the University of Chicago or University of Chicago Medical Center liable for any damages you may incur as a result of the transfer or use of this information. The use or transmittal of this form does not create a physician-contact relationship. More information regarding the confidentiality of this request can be found in our Privacy Policy.