Pediatric Brain Tumor Symptoms

Pediatric brain tumors may be cancerous (malignant) or non-cancerous (benign). According to the Cleveland Clinic, among types of childhood cancers, brain cancers are the most commonly diagnosed after childhood leukemia and lymphoma. Brain tumors in children are of special concern, as their brains are rapidly growing and developing, and tumors and their treatments may cause damage to the brain.

Identification

• Pediatric brain tumors are identified by neurologists, oncologists and other specialists by biopsy of the tumor and using images of the brain generated by computerized tomography (CT) scans and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Sensory Symptoms

• Problems with loss of vision or hearing, blindness, and loss or dulling of the senses of smell and taste may be symptoms of pediatric brain tumors.

Coordination

• A loss of coordination and balance, including hand-eye coordination, may be a symptom of childhood brain tumors.

Speech Changes

• Speech changes in children with brain tumors may include difficulty in forming words and thinking of the correct word in children who previously had no speech difficulties.

Personality Changes

• Children with brain tumors may have symptoms of personality changes, including a lack of enthusiasm for previously enjoyed activities, confusion, distraction and attention deficits.

Digestive

• Digestive symptoms of pediatric brain tumors include loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting and unusual weight loss or weight gain.

Fatigue

• Children with brain tumors may experience unusual sleepiness, fatigue and an overall slowness in movement and thought.