At this time there are no widely recommended blood tests or other screening exams for children to detect brain tumors before they start to cause symptoms. These tumors usually come to light as a result of signs or symptoms the child is having.
In most cases, survival of patients with brain tumors depends on the type of tumor and its location, not how early it is detected. But as with any disease, earlier detection and treatment is likely to be helpful.
For children diagnosed with certain inherited syndromes that put them at higher risk for brain tumors, such as neurofibromatosis or tuberous sclerosis, doctors may recommend frequent physical exams and other tests. In some cases these tests may find tumors when they are still small. Not all tumors related to these syndromes may need to be treated right away, but finding them early may help doctors monitor them so that they can be treated quickly if they begin to grow or cause problems.
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