Question:
Which is the most common brain tumor in children?
Which is the most common brain tumor in children?
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Pediatric CNS Tumor Rules:
- Most common brain tumor overall in children: Pilocytic Astrocytoma (Low-grade, WHO Grade I; Cyst with mural nodule; Rosenthal fibers).
- Most common MALIGNANT brain tumor in children: Medulloblastoma (WHO Grade IV, small round blue cell tumor, Homer-Wright rosettes).
- Most common brain tumor overall in children: Pilocytic Astrocytoma (Low-grade, WHO Grade I; Cyst with mural nodule; Rosenthal fibers).
- Most common MALIGNANT brain tumor in children: Medulloblastoma (WHO Grade IV, small round blue cell tumor, Homer-Wright rosettes).
Updated On: Sep 3, 2026
- Choroid plexus papilloma
- Pilocytic astrocytoma
- Medulloblastoma
- Teratoma
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Verified By Collegedunia
The Correct Option is B
Solution and Explanation
Concept:
Central nervous system (CNS) tumors are the most common solid neoplasms of childhood and the leading cause of cancer-related mortality in the pediatric age group.
Pediatric brain tumors are classified histopathologically as glial (astrocytomas, ependymomas) or embryonal/neuronal (medulloblastomas, ATRT).
Explanation:
• Pilocytic Astrocytoma (WHO Grade I) is the single most common brain tumor in children, accounting for approximately 15% to 20% of all pediatric central nervous system neoplasms and over 30% of all pediatric gliomas.
• It most frequently arises in the cerebellum (juvenile cerebellar pilocytic astrocytoma) and the optic pathways/hypothalamus (optic pathway glioma, strongly linked to Neurofibromatosis Type 1).
• Neuroimaging typically demonstrates a well-circumscribed, cystic cerebellar mass with an intensely enhancing mural nodule.
• Histopathological examination characteristically reveals biphasic architecture with bipolar cells with long "hair-like" processes, eosinophilic Rosenthal fibers, and eosinophilic granular bodies.
• Medulloblastoma (WHO Grade IV embryonal tumor) is the most common malignant pediatric brain tumor (accounting for $\approx 15\text{--}20\%$ of childhood CNS tumors), arising in the cerebellar vermis and fourth ventricle.
• Choroid plexus papillomas and intracranial teratomas are rare neoplasms, together accounting for less than 2% to 3% of all pediatric brain tumors.
Final Answer:
Pilocytic astrocytoma is the overall most common brain tumor diagnosed in the pediatric population.
Central nervous system (CNS) tumors are the most common solid neoplasms of childhood and the leading cause of cancer-related mortality in the pediatric age group.
Pediatric brain tumors are classified histopathologically as glial (astrocytomas, ependymomas) or embryonal/neuronal (medulloblastomas, ATRT).
Explanation:
• Pilocytic Astrocytoma (WHO Grade I) is the single most common brain tumor in children, accounting for approximately 15% to 20% of all pediatric central nervous system neoplasms and over 30% of all pediatric gliomas.
• It most frequently arises in the cerebellum (juvenile cerebellar pilocytic astrocytoma) and the optic pathways/hypothalamus (optic pathway glioma, strongly linked to Neurofibromatosis Type 1).
• Neuroimaging typically demonstrates a well-circumscribed, cystic cerebellar mass with an intensely enhancing mural nodule.
• Histopathological examination characteristically reveals biphasic architecture with bipolar cells with long "hair-like" processes, eosinophilic Rosenthal fibers, and eosinophilic granular bodies.
• Medulloblastoma (WHO Grade IV embryonal tumor) is the most common malignant pediatric brain tumor (accounting for $\approx 15\text{--}20\%$ of childhood CNS tumors), arising in the cerebellar vermis and fourth ventricle.
• Choroid plexus papillomas and intracranial teratomas are rare neoplasms, together accounting for less than 2% to 3% of all pediatric brain tumors.
Final Answer:
Pilocytic astrocytoma is the overall most common brain tumor diagnosed in the pediatric population.
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