Children with brain and nervous system cancers tend to have a better prognosis than adults with these diseases. More than half survive longer than five years. Survival among adults varies depending on the type of tumor. Following is the distribution of various types of nervous-system cancers in children based on information from the American Cancer Society:
Name: Prevalence in %
Supratentorial astrocytoma (not in the
cerebellum, brain stem or spinal cord): 25-40
Cerebellar astrocytoma: 10-20
Brain stem glioma: 10-20
Medulloblastoma: 10-20
Ependymoma: 5-10
Craniopharyngioma: 6-9
Pineal region tumors: .5-2
Other: 12-14
Copyright © 2000 Oncology.com, Inc. All rights reserved.
