What is a benign pediatric brain tumor?
Pediatric brain tumors are classified into one of two categories: benign or malignant. A benign pediatric brain tumor is a childhood tumor that grows very slowly. Benign tumors usually have distinct borders. They rarely spread. Under a microscope, the cells of a benign tumor look almost like normal cells. Benign tumors do not contain cancer cells.

Very rarely, benign tumors can become malignant.

How are benign pediatric brain tumors treated?
If the tumor is in a section of the brain that can be accessed with surgery, pediatric brain tumor resection alone is often an effective treatment for benign pediatric brain tumors. Benign tumors usually do not grow back once they are removed.

If these tumors are benign, why do they need to be removed?
Benign tumors can put pressure on sensitive areas of the brain, causing permanent damage. If a benign tumor is located in a vital area of the brain, it can be life threatening.

Why Le Bonheur?
Le Bonheur Children's Medical Center, in conjunction with St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, is home to the nation's largest Pediatric Surgical Brain Tumor Program. Together, we are nationally known for our aggressive surgical approaches and groundbreaking treatments of brain tumors in children and adolescents.
 
Children with brain tumors receive care from a multidisciplinary group of physicians, scientists, nurses and support staff representing the many types of treatments and support crucial to the comprehensive care of children with brain tumors.

This team includes pediatric neurosurgeons at Le Bonheur Children's Medical Center and neuro-oncologists and pediatric radiation oncologists at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. Through this multi-hospital collaboration, each child's care is supported by physicians representing radiology, neuropsychology, neuropathology and neuroendocrinology, plus specially trained nurses, rehabilitation specialists, pharmacists, nutritionists and audiologists.

The Pediatric Brain Tumor Program is a key component of Le Bonheur's Neuroscience Institute, a center of excellence dedicated to the evaluation and treatment of neurological disorders. Children from across the country visit Le Bonheur each year to be treated at the Institute.