Canadian Pediatric Neuro-Oncology Standards of Practice.

Primary CNS tumors are the leading cause of cancer-related death in pediatrics. It is essential to understand treatment trends to interpret national survival data. In Canada, children with CNS tumors are treated at one of 16 tertiary care centers.

Pontine gliomas a 10-year population-based study: a report from The Canadian Paediatric Brain Tumour Consortium (CPBTC).

Background: Diffuse intrinsic pontine gliomas (DIPG) are midline gliomas that arise from the pons and the majority are lethal within a few months after diagnosis. Due to the lack of histological diagnosis the epidemiology of DIPG is not completely understood. The aim of this report is to provide population-based data to characterize the descriptive epidemiology of this condition in Canadian children.

Bacteremia with in a 4 month old pediatric oncology patient.

colonizes and is a pathogen of dogs and is being increasingly recognized from specimens from humans with various infections. We describe a case of bacteremia in a 4 month old pediatric oncology patient with clear evidence of transmission from the family pet.

Survival of children with medulloblastoma in Canada diagnosed between 1990 and 2009 inclusive.

The treatment of medulloblastoma, the most common malignant brain tumor in children, has evolved over the last few decades. The objectives of this paper were to determine the survival of pediatric medulloblastoma in Canada, to determine if there has been an improvement in the survival rates between the years of 1990 and 2009, inclusive, and to determine prognostic factors for survival. All patients under the age of 18 years diagnosed with medulloblastoma from 1990 to 2009, inclusive, in Canada were included.

Incidence of medulloblastoma in Canadian children.

Medulloblastoma is the most common malignant brain tumor in children. There was a perception of pediatric neuro-oncologists that the incidence had declined in Canada. An epidemiological survey was undertaken to determine the incidence of this tumor in Canada and if a change had indeed occurred.

Carboplatin hypersensitivity reaction in pediatric patients with low-grade glioma: a Canadian Pediatric Brain Tumor Consortium experience.

Background: Carboplatin-based regimens have demonstrated activity in pediatric patients with low-grade glioma (LGG). However, carboplatin hypersensitivity reaction (Cb HSR) represents a common and limiting factor for the continuation of therapy.

Methods: The objectives of this study were to describe the prevalence, characteristics, and management of Cb HSR and to detail their impact on outcome.

Supratentorial primitive neuroectodermal tumors: a Canadian pediatric brain tumor consortium report.

Introduction: Supratentorial primitive neuroectodermal tumors (SPNET) are rare tumors accounting for only 2.5% of childhood brain tumors. The purpose of this study was to describe the range of treatment regimens used to treat pediatric SPNET in Canada and to identify prognostic factors for overall survival in this population.

Distinctive clinical course and pattern of relapse in adolescents with medulloblastoma.

Purpose: To report the clinical course of adolescents with medulloblastoma, with specific emphasis on prognosis and pattern of relapse.

Methods And Materials: We retrospectively studied the clinical course and outcomes of children aged 10-20 years with medulloblastoma, treated at centers throughout Canada between 1986 and 2003. To better assess time to relapse, a cohort of patients aged 3-20 years at diagnosis was generated.

Medulloblastoma in the second decade of life: a specific group with respect to toxicity and management: a Canadian Pediatric Brain Tumor Consortium Study.

Background: Most reported data of chemoradiotherapy protocols for the treatment of medulloblastoma describe children who were treated in the first decade of life. To consider the feasibility of this approach in adolescents, the authors studied their clinical course with specific emphasis on toxicity, tolerability, and prognosis.

Methods: In this retrospective study, the authors examined the toxicity profiles and outcomes of children age 10-20 years with medulloblastoma who were treated at centers throughout Canada between 1986 and 2003.