The University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine designates this continuing medical education activity for 2 credit hours in Category 1 of the Physician's Recognition Award of the American Medical Association. Credit designation will be approved for 2 years. This course is designed for radiation oncologists, pediatric oncologists, and allied professionals. The objectives of the course are to evaluate the role of radiation therapy in the treatment of pediatric brain tumors. Areas where the role is evolving will be identified, and the results of clinical trials which have been mounted to clarify radiotherapy's role will be reviewed.
Brain tumors are the second most common malignancy of childhood after leukemias and lymphomas.
However, they remain the most common group of childhood tumors to require radiation therapy. Therefore, a thorough understanding of these tumors, and the appropriate role of surgery, radiation and chemotherapy is critical. Issues surrounding the management of sequelae are no less important. The role of radiotherapy for the treatment of these tumors is far different from that for adults. These differences relate to the profound potential for sequelae from therapy, the higher overall cure rates, and the utility of multimodality therapies.