Interdisciplinary treatment in pediatric patients with malignant CNS tumors

Despite sophisticated surgical methods only a few pediatric CNS tumors can be controlled by operation alone. Therefore multimodality treatment regimen s are needed to improve quality of life and survival, which is most importa nt in malignant neoplasms. Since 1998 we have treated 16 children with mali gnant CNS tumors. All 16 patients have been treated on an interdisciplinary basis and are therefore accompanied by a pediatric neurooncology group con sisting of a neurosurgeon, pediatric oncologist, and radiotherapist. Depend ing on tumor histology, child's age, and extent of surgery, further adjuvan t therapy is planned by this group. Newly diagnosed tumors are typically tr eated by a specific chemotherapy protocol according to a multi-institutiona l study. In recurrent tumors more individual treatment regimens are conside red. Data concerning surgery, adjunctive treatment, complications, and outc ome of all patients and four case reports are presented.