Headaches, vomiting, back pain, clumsiness… these are symptoms nearly every child experiences at some point, and most of the time, they have a perfectly ordinary explanation. But when certain symptoms persist, worsen, or appear together, they can sometimes signal something more serious.
Brain and spinal cord tumors are among the most common solid tumors affecting children. Each year from 2017 to 2021, about 4,955 children and adolescents ages 0–19 in the United States were diagnosed with a primary brain or other central nervous system tumor.
Most headaches and backaches in children aren’t signs of anything serious. But if symptoms persist, get worse, or seem unusual for your child, it’s worth talking with their pediatrician.
What Are Pediatric Brain and Spinal Cord Tumors?
Brain and spinal cord tumors occur when abnormal cells grow within or near the brain or spinal cord. These tumors can be either malignant (cancerous) or nonmalignant (noncancerous).
But with the brain and spinal cord, “benign” doesn’t necessarily mean harmless.
The brain and spinal cord control functions throughout the body, and space within the skull and spinal canal is limited. Even a slow-growing or noncancerous tumor can cause serious problems if it presses on the brain, spinal cord, nerves, or other critical structures.
The effects of a tumor therefore depend not only on its type and size, but also on its location and which structures it affects.
What Are the Symptoms of a Brain Tumor in a Child?
Symptoms of a pediatric brain tumor can vary considerably depending on the child’s age and the tumor’s size, type, and location.
Possible warning signs include:
- Recurring or worsening headaches, particularly headaches that wake a child from sleep or are worse in the morning
- Repeated vomiting, especially in the morning
- Blurred or double vision, abnormal eye movements, or other changes in vision
- Problems with balance, coordination, or walking
- A new or unexplained head tilt
- Changes in behavior or personality, including unusual tiredness or irritability
- Seizures
- Changes in growth or unusually early or delayed puberty
Babies and very young children can’t always tell you what they’re experiencing. Signs that deserve medical attention can include an unusually rapid increase in head size, a bulging soft spot, or the loss of developmental milestones the child had previously reached.
Importantly, having one of these symptoms does not mean a child has a brain tumor. Headaches, vomiting, fatigue, and balance problems can have many other causes.
What deserves attention is a symptom that doesn’t resolve as expected, worsens over time, or occurs alongside other neurological changes.
What Are the Symptoms of a Spinal Tumor in a Child?
Spinal tumors can develop within or around the spinal cord and may compress the cord or nearby nerves. Because the spinal cord carries signals between the brain and the rest of the body, pressure on it can affect movement, sensation, and even bladder or bowel function.
Possible warning signs of a spinal tumor in a child include:
- Persistent back pain
- Back pain that wakes a child at night
- A new limp or changes in the way a child walks
- Increasing clumsiness
- Weakness in one or both legs
- New bladder or bowel accidents in a child who was previously toilet trained
- Painful scoliosis or a spinal curve that appears to be progressing quickly
Back pain deserves particular attention in younger children. Although back pain becomes more common during adolescence (particularly with sports and physical activity), persistent or unexplained back pain in a young child should be evaluated.
If you’ve noticed a change in your child’s spinal alignment, you may also want to read What Is Scoliosis, Really? A Spine Surgeon Breaks It Down.
Why Can Brain and Spinal Tumors Be So Serious?
With tumors involving the central nervous system, location matters tremendously.
A relatively small brain tumor can cause significant problems if it develops near an area responsible for vital functions. Similarly, a spinal tumor can compress the spinal cord or nerve roots, interfering with the signals responsible for movement, sensation, and other functions.
Treating children presents another challenge: their brains and bodies are still developing.
Treatment decisions may therefore need to account not only for controlling or removing the tumor, but also for protecting neurological function and minimizing potential long-term effects on a child’s development.
That’s one reason pediatric brain and spinal tumors often require care from a multidisciplinary team that may include pediatricians, neurologists, neurosurgeons, oncologists, radiologists, radiation oncologists, rehabilitation specialists, and other professionals.
How Are Brain and Spinal Tumors Diagnosed?
When a child’s symptoms suggest that something may be affecting the brain, spinal cord, or nervous system, evaluation generally begins with a detailed medical history and neurological examination.
Depending on the symptoms and findings, the next step may include imaging such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). MRI can provide detailed images of the brain, spinal cord, nerves, and surrounding structures.
If imaging identifies a tumor, additional testing may be necessary to determine exactly what it is. Depending on the individual case, that can include a biopsy, surgery, laboratory testing, or molecular and genetic analysis of tumor tissue.
Those findings help the medical team determine the most appropriate treatment.
Where Does Neurosurgery Fit Into Treatment?
Not every brain or spinal tumor is treated the same way, and not every tumor requires surgery.
When surgery is appropriate, the goals can differ. A neurosurgeon may operate to:
- Remove as much of a tumor as safely possible
- Obtain tissue so the tumor can be accurately diagnosed
- Relieve pressure on the brain or spinal cord
- Protect or restore neurological function
- Help manage complications caused by the tumor
For some tumors, surgery may be the primary treatment. Others require a combination of surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, targeted therapy, or careful observation.
The best approach depends on factors such as the child’s age, tumor type, location, growth rate, symptoms, and overall health.
Southern Neurosurgery provides care for complex conditions involving the brain, spine, spinal cord, and nervous system, including tumor-related conditions. Learn more about spinal cord tumor resection and how surgery may be used to remove tumors from or around the spinal cord while protecting neurological function.
When Should Parents Seek Medical Care?
Remember that most headaches, stomach bugs, backaches, and clumsy moments in children are not caused by tumors.
Parents don’t need to panic over an isolated symptom. Instead, pay attention to patterns.
Talk with your child’s pediatrician if a symptom is persistent, progressively worsening, unusual for your child, or accompanied by other neurological changes. A pediatrician can determine whether further evaluation or referral to a specialist is appropriate.
Seek immediate medical attention for severe or rapidly developing neurological symptoms such as a first-time seizure, sudden significant weakness, loss of consciousness, or other acute neurological changes.
Parents know their children well. If something seems significantly different and isn’t improving, it’s reasonable to ask questions and seek an evaluation.
Expert Care for Conditions Affecting the Brain and Spine
At Southern Neurosurgery, we diagnose and treat complex conditions involving the brain, spine, spinal cord, and nervous system. Our approach combines advanced neurosurgical care with individualized treatment planning and clear communication so patients and families can better understand their diagnosis and options.
If your child has been referred for a neurosurgical evaluation or would like to learn more about the conditions and procedures we treat, explore what we do or contact Southern Neurosurgery to schedule an appointment.
Southern Neurosurgery is located at 601 Broad Street SE, Suite A, Gainesville, Georgia 30501, and can be reached at 470-293-9800. Southern Neurosurgery is expanding to South Atlanta and Sandy Springs soon.
This article is for educational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice or as a substitute for evaluation by a qualified healthcare professional. If you are concerned about your child’s symptoms, contact your pediatrician or another appropriate healthcare provider.
About Dr. Betsy Grunch
Dr. Betsy Grunch is a board-certified neurosurgeon based in Gainesville, Georgia, known for her expertise in minimally invasive spine surgery and her commitment to delivering thoughtful, patient-centered care. A consistent recipient of peer-nominated Top Doctor honors from Georgia Trend and Atlanta Magazine through Castle Connolly, she recently founded her own practice, Southern Neurosurgery, dedicated to what she does best – putting patients first.
Beyond the operating room, Dr. Grunch is a leading digital voice in medicine, recognized by millions as @Ladyspinedoc. She has built a powerful personal brand rooted in clarity, connection, and trust – translating complex neurosurgical concepts into language patients and the public can truly understand.
Through her work, she emphasizes that being a great physician is not just about technical skill – but about listening, communicating, and showing up for patients in meaningful ways. Her platform educates, inspires, and empowers both patients and the next generation of healthcare professionals to rethink what it means to lead in modern medicine.
She is deeply passionate about inspiring future healthcare professionals to pursue medicine, while also mentoring healthcare professionals on how to build authentic, impactful brands that extend their voice beyond the bedside.