4.6 Review

Advanced Neuroimaging Approaches to Pediatric Brain Tumors

Journal

CANCERS
Volume 14, Issue 14, Pages -

Publisher

MDPI
DOI: 10.3390/cancers14143401

Keywords

pediatrics; brain tumor; positron emission tomography; volumetrics; elastography

Categories

Funding

  1. Nemours Diagnostic & Research PET/MRI Center
  2. Do Believe Foundation
  3. Department of Biomedical Research at Nemours Children's Health
  4. Department of Radiology at Nemours Children's Health
  5. Institutional Development Award (IDeA) from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences of the National Institutes of Health [U54-GM104941]
  6. National Institute of General Medical Sciences of the National Institutes of Health [P20GM103446]
  7. National Cancer Institute award [1R01CA263216-01A1]

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Brain tumors are the second most common cancers in children after leukemias. Early and accurate diagnosis is crucial for improving patient outcomes. Advanced neuroimaging techniques, beyond conventional CT and MRI, are being used to enhance the early detection and differential diagnosis of central nervous system tumors. This review provides an overview of recent developments in neuroimaging techniques for pediatric brain tumors.
Simple Summary After leukemias, brain tumors are the most common cancers in children, and early, accurate diagnosis is critical to improve patient outcomes. Beyond the conventional imaging methods of computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), advanced neuroimaging techniques capable of both structural and functional imaging are moving to the forefront to improve the early detection and differential diagnosis of tumors of the central nervous system. Here, we review recent developments in neuroimaging techniques for pediatric brain tumors. Central nervous system tumors are the most common pediatric solid tumors; they are also the most lethal. Unlike adults, childhood brain tumors are mostly primary in origin and differ in type, location and molecular signature. Tumor characteristics (incidence, location, and type) vary with age. Children present with a variety of symptoms, making early accurate diagnosis challenging. Neuroimaging is key in the initial diagnosis and monitoring of pediatric brain tumors. Conventional anatomic imaging approaches (computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)) are useful for tumor detection but have limited utility differentiating tumor types and grades. Advanced MRI techniques (diffusion-weighed imaging, diffusion tensor imaging, functional MRI, arterial spin labeling perfusion imaging, MR spectroscopy, and MR elastography) provide additional and improved structural and functional information. Combined with positron emission tomography (PET) and single-photon emission CT (SPECT), advanced techniques provide functional information on tumor metabolism and physiology through the use of radiotracer probes. Radiomics and radiogenomics offer promising insight into the prediction of tumor subtype, post-treatment response to treatment, and prognostication. In this paper, a brief review of pediatric brain cancers, by type, is provided with a comprehensive description of advanced imaging techniques including clinical applications that are currently utilized for the assessment and evaluation of pediatric brain tumors.

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