STAGING AND SURVEILLANCE OF CHILDREN WITH CENTRAL-NERVOUS-SYSTEM NEOPLASMS - RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE NEUROLOGY AND TUMOR IMAGING COMMITTEES OF THE CHILDRENS CANCER GROUP

Standardization of the baseline and surveillance evaluation of childre n with central nervous system (CNS) tumors could contribute to underst anding tumor behavior, establishing prognoses, directing treatment, an d interpreting multi-institutional cooperative study data. A tumor cat egorization schedule, based on recognized patterns of CNS tumor behavi or involving 'aggressiveness' as assessed by the likelihood for neurax is dissemination, relative time to progression and pattern of disease recurrence is presented. Included are the most common histologic subty pes of pediatric CNS neoplasms. No attempt has been made to include al l histologic subtypes of pediatric CNS neoplasms. Using this categoriz ation as a framework, recommendations are suggested for baseline evalu ations at diagnosis and in surveillance.