Brain tumors, caused by abnormal growth of tissues in the brain, can cause headaches, morning sickness and visual disturbances in children.

Brain tumors develop when the normal structures of the cells that make up structures such as brain tissue, cerebellum, vessels and meninges within the skull are disrupted and grow uncontrollably. Severe headache, nausea, weakness in arms and legs can be symptoms of brain tumors. In addition, brain tumors can cause speech disorders, hearing loss and psychological imbalances. If left untreated, these tumors, which rank second among childhood cancers, can cause permanent damage and life-threatening conditions in children.

Early diagnosis is very important

Although brain tumors may seem rare, they are the most common tumors of childhood after leukemia. The exact cause of brain tumors is unknown, but they are thought to be caused by environmental pollution, genetic factors and unbalanced nutrition. Symptoms of brain tumors in children differ from those in adults. In adults, brain tumors mostly manifest as severe headaches, whereas in children they are more often associated with visual and developmental impairment.

Beware of temporary vision loss, headache and hearing loss!

60-65% of the brain is devoted to the visual pathways and higher centers related to vision. An object can only be seen if the image is perceived first in the eye and then in the visual center in the back of the brain. When there is a problem in these visual pathways, symptoms may appear as sudden or progressive vision loss. In diseases involving eye movements, the main symptom is double vision and the problem may involve eye muscles, nerves or control centers in the brain. Complaints such as temporary loss of vision or double vision, hallucinations, droopy eyelids, and differences in the size of the pupils can be signs of a brain tumor.

Size difference between two eyes is the most important symptom of brain tumor

Seeing everything double means that the eyes are not in the correct position. It usually occurs due to a problem in the control of the eyes by the brain. In children, turning one eye in or out later on indicates that the brain has lost control of the eyes. This may occur because the eye cannot see and cannot tell the brain which direction it is looking in, or the brain control systems themselves may be impaired by a tumor.  The pupils

are round or equal in size in both eyes. The size of the pupil regulates the amount of light entering the eye and is controlled by the brain. This is because it is the easiest way to observe the result of normal or impaired nerve connections with the brain. Therefore, if there is an irregular pupil or a difference in size between the two eyes, a doctor should be consulted.

Treatment varies according to the age of the patient

There are tumors that can be cured by surgical removal, but sometimes a combination of chemotherapy or radiotherapy may also be required. The various treatment options are determined by the nature of the tumor and often by the age and functional status of the child. As a general rule, radiotherapy is very important in the treatment of adult brain tumors. However, radiation treatments can have adverse effects on the developing brain. For this reason, chemotherapy is often the first choice in young children.

March 2023