Investigating new pathways to diagnosis

The time between the onset of the first symptom and the diagnosis of childhood brain tumour is considerably longer than other childhood cancers. The varied symptoms, relative rarity of CNS tumours and difficulties in prioritising access to brain scanning combine to explain this delay.  Understandably, delays in diagnosis cause great concern to children and parents when the diagnosis of a brain tumour is ultimately made. The delay in diagnosis is also likely to adversely affect health outcomes.

The Children’s Brain Tumour Research Centre (CBTRC) is managing an award-winning programme of research leading to the publication of new clinical guidelines. The guidelines aim to raise healthcare professionals' awareness of the signs and symptoms associated with childhood brain tumours. In addition, it is intended that the guidelines will justify prioritised access to brain scanning in a timely manner. This project is being funded by Samantha Dickson Brain Tumour Trust (SDBTT), thanks to an award from The Big Lottery Fund.

Recent publications

Wilne S, Collier J, Kennedy C, Koller K, Grundy R, Walker D (2007). Presentation of childhood CNS tumours: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Lancet Oncology 8: 685-695.

Wilne S, Collier J, Walker D, Grundy R, Kennedy C, Punt J (2005). The presentation of childhood brain tumors: A meta-analysis. Neuro-Oncology 7(3):335.