Causes

In most cases, the exact cause of a pediatric brain tumor is not known.

Pediatric brain tumors typically are primary brain tumors — tumors that start in the brain or in tissues close to it. Primary brain tumors begin when normal cells have errors (mutations) in their DNA. These mutations allow cells to grow and divide at increased rates and to continue living when healthy cells would die. The result is a mass of abnormal cells, which forms a tumor.

Many different types of brain tumors — which may or may not be cancerous — can occur in children.