Surgery and Treatment for Children with a Brain Tumor

A brain tumor is any tumor on the brain, skull or spinal cord, and many pediatric brain tumors are non-cancerous (benign). Our expert team provides top care for all types of brain tumors, and we’re by your side from diagnosis through treatment and follow-up care. Our affiliation with UT Southwestern means you have access to some of the world’s top pediatric brain tumor doctors who use the most advanced technology and techniques. We customize each child’s treatment plan to give them the best opportunity to overcome the brain tumor and get on track toward a happier, healthier future.

Comprehensive care by a diverse, expert team

Our team includes a variety of experts who specialize in treating brain tumors in children, including neurosurgeons, neuro-oncologists, radiologists and pathologists. Together, they evaluate each child from every angle and develop a comprehensive treatment plan that’s right for them.

For most children with brain tumors, doctors perform surgery to remove the tumor. Many times, this is the only treatment a child needs to overcome the brain tumor.

Some children may need other treatments to shrink and kill the tumor, like chemotherapy or radiation. Chemotherapy is a type of medicine, and radiation is a type of therapy that uses high-energy beams. Our experts have access to the most advanced treatments, and they develop the treatment plan that is most effective with as few side effects as possible.

We also consider if your child needs support from our social workers, psychologists and other specialists on our team to help with special needs and emotional challenges, like anxiety or depression. Our educational specialists help your child continue education while they undergo treatment. They also ensure your child’s school is aware of any special needs they have when they return to school.

Leaders in brain tumor care and research

Our partnership with UT Southwestern means you have access to some of the world’s top pediatric doctors. Through this partnership, we lead research studies to develop new brain tumor treatments and take part in innovative clinical trials.

Members of our team are also part of the Children’s Oncology Group, a worldwide organization of leading cancer doctors and researchers. This organization pursues innovative new therapies and develops clinical trials for children. This gives our patients access to many promising therapies before they’re widely available.

Care throughout childhood – and beyond

When your child receives brain tumor treatment at Children’s Health, we’ll continue to support them for as long as they need our help. Depending on their type of tumor, some children may need follow-up treatment, like physical therapy. We have these experts on our team at Children’s Health so your child can get all the treatment they need at one clinic. When your child turns 18, we’ll help them find the right doctors to care for them in adulthood.