Risk Factors
A risk factor is a characteristic, behavior, or condition that raises the possibility of developing a disease. Brain tumors do not have many risk factors and most have no known causes, but here are some things that may increase a child's risk of developing a brain tumor:
Radiation
Radiation exposure can damage a child's cells and increase the risk of developing a brain tumor. Children who have received radiation to the head and neck region for another cancer are more likely to develop a brain tumor; however, the benefits of radiation therapy far outweigh the risks. With the recent use of proton beam radiation and other new radiation techniques, the risk of damaging healthy parts of the brain has been reduced. Tumors like meningioma and glioblastoma are the most common secondary brain tumors that can develop after radiation.
Age
For certain types of childhood brain tumors, craniopharyngiomas for example, the age of the child has an effect on the risk of tumor development. Craniopharyngiomas are rare in children younger than 2 years of age and are most often diagnosed in children ages 5 to 14.
Inherited Genetic Syndromes
Certain inherited genetic diseases such as neurofibromatosis, tuberous sclerosis, Von-Hippel Lindau disease, and Li-Fraumeni syndrome can put a child at higher risk for developing certain types of brain tumors.
