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Children's tumours - suspected - Management
Brain and CNS tumours (all ages)
Children 2 years of age and older, and young people
- Persistent headache in a child or young person requires a neurological examination by the primary healthcare professional. An urgent referral should be made if the primary healthcare professional is unable to undertake an adequate examination (D).
- Headache and vomiting that cause early morning waking or occur on waking are classical signs of raised intracranial pressure, and an immediate referral should be made (C).
- The presence of any of the following neurological symptoms and signs should prompt urgent or immediate referral: (D)
- New-onset seizures
- Cranial nerve abnormalities
- Visual disturbances
- Gait abnormalities
- Motor or sensory signs
- Unexplained deteriorating school performance or developmental milestones
- Unexplained behavioural and/or mood changes
- A child or young person with a reduced level of consciousness requires emergency admission (C).
Children younger than 2 years of age
- In children younger than 2 years of age, any of the following symptoms may suggest a CNS tumour, and referral (as indicated below) is required (C).
- Immediate referral:
- New-onset seizures
- Bulging fontanelle
- Extensor attacks
- Persistent vomiting
- Urgent referral:
- Abnormal increase in head size
- Arrest or regression of motor development
- Altered behaviour
- Abnormal eye movements
- Lack of visual following
- Poor feeding/failure to thrive
- Urgency contingent on other factors:
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