| Diagnosis | Typical Location |
|---|---|
Pilocytic astrocytoma | Cerebellum |
Ganglioglioma | Temporal lobe |
Desmoplastic infantile astrocytoma/ | Cerebrum |
Diffuse leptomeningeal glioneuronal tumor | Leptomeninges |
Dysembryo-plastic neuroepithelial tumor | Temporal lobe |
Pleomorphic xanthoastro- | Temporal lobe |
About pLGG
Understanding pediatric low-grade glioma (pLGG)
Easton, lives with pLGG.
Lives for painting.
pLGG is the most common type of diagnosed brain tumor in children
What is pLGG?
pLGG is a type of tumor in the brain or spinal cord, together known as the central nervous system. Tumors are defined by their tissue structure, or histology, and gene Alteration = a type of genomic change (mutation or fusion) in the BRAF gene that may contribute to cancer development.
Glioma = brain tumor, or brain tumors, are given a grade based on how abnormal the tumor cells look under a microscope. pLGG tumors are classified as Grade 1 = low-grade tumor or Grade 2 = low-grade tumor, indicating slower growth compared with high-grade tumors.
The more you ask about your child’s pLGG, the more you’ll know
Download the Discussion Guide
Symptoms of pLGG depend on the tumor’s size and location in the brain.
Some of the most common symptoms include:
Loss of balance, difficulty walking, motor function problems, and problems with speech
Unexplained weight loss or weight gain
Morning headache or headache that goes away after vomiting
Vision problems
Nausea and vomiting
Seizures
Unusual tiredness or change in energy level
Mood disorders
Every child with pLGG may face different challenges
Depending on the location of the brain tumor, your child’s healthcare team will decide if surgery is the right choice. Some brain tumor locations may be harder to access than others.
If surgery is possible, the surgeon will remove as much of the brain tumor as possible without harming healthy brain tissue. If surgery is not possible or only part of the brain tumor was removed, your child may have to receive additional treatment to control any potential tumor growth. It can be scary to know that some of the tumor may still be there and could potentially continue to grow.
For explanations of terms used throughout the site, please see the glossary.
