Fletcher Allen, a Vermont university hospital and medical center, serves all of
Vermont and the northern New York region. Located in Burlington, Fletcher Allen is a regional, academic healthcare center and teaching hospital in alliance with the University of Vermont.
Pediatric Brain Tumors
- Neurosurgery
- Medical Center Campus
- East Pavilion, Level 5
- 111 Colchester Avenue
Burlington, VT, 05401 - Phone: 802-847-4590
- Monday-Friday, 8 AM-5 PM
- Directions
Brain tumors are a widespread health concern in the United States, with approximately 17,000 people diagnosed with primary brain tumors every year. Brain tumors can result in a major loss of brain function and disability. They are the most common type of solid tumor in children, and a leading cause of solid tumor cancer death in children.
About Brain Tumors in Children
Brain tumors are masses of abnormal cells in the brain. There are many different types of brain tumors. They can be cancerous or non-cancerous. Symptoms can include headache – the most common symptom – which may occur with double vision, weakness or numbness. Other possible symptoms include changes in personality and behavior, a gradual loss of feeling or movement in an arm or leg, or other mental or functional difficulties.
Pediatric brain tumors, depending on their location, also may cause hydrocephalus, and lead to headache, vomiting, blurred vision or walking-related problems.
Tumors in children are most frequently primary tumors -- those that originate in the tissues of the brain. These types of tumors occur when normal cells develop mutations in their genetic make-up or DNA. The mutations cause the cells to grow and divide at increased rates, forming a mass of abnormal cells.
Metastatic tumors — those that occur elsewhere in the body and spread to the brain — are rare in children.
The prognosis for childhood brain tumors varies from person to person, depending on the type, location and size of tumor, the health of the child and many other factors.
Pediatric Brain Tumor Treatment at Fletcher Allen
If your child needs care for a brain tumor or suspected brain tumor, you want them to receive the highest quality of care from a team of dedicated, experienced clinicians.
At the Vermont Children’s Hospital at Fletcher Allen, our caring and knowledgeable pediatric neurosurgeons provide specialized care for infants, children, adolescents and young adults with neurological issues. We work closely with a team of specialists – including pediatric oncologists, radiation oncologists, neurologists and other health professionals -- to offer comprehensive care for children with brain tumors.
Our pediatric neurosurgeons are specially trained in the most recent techniques – including microsurgery, laser surgery, computer-assisted surgery and image-guided therapies. Patients benefit from state-of-the-art facilities and equipment, along with access to advanced technology and minimally invasive surgery.
Because Fletcher Allen is a university hospital and health system in partnership with the University of Vermont, you can be assured that your care is informed by the latest scientific innovations and ground-breaking research. Your treatment is backed by a strong commitment to high-quality care and ongoing quality improvement. Fletcher Allen is also dedicated to patient education, making sure you have all the information you need to make informed choices about your care.
Through all stages of your child’s treatment — from diagnosis to surgery to rehabilitation — we provide a caring, personalized approach that puts your child and family at the center of everything we do.
