Neuro-oncologic Emergencies

Brain tumors are the most common solid tumor in children, and unfortunately, they carry the highest mortality rate of any of the pediatric cancers. The tumor itself can pose significant risk to the patient due to local effects on the central nervous system which can be life threatening if not addressed quickly. In addition, treatment can also pose significant risks to the patient as damage to the brain has a much slower recovery than any other organ in the body. This can have long-term ramifications to the patient’s overall functionality for his or her lifetime.