PURPOSE: As the morbidity and mortality associated with communicable diseases continue to decrease in the developing world, the medical burden of childhood cancer continues to expand. Although international aid and relief groups such as the World Health Organization recognize the importance of childhood cancer, their main emphasis is on the more easily treated malignancies, such as leukemias and lymphomas, and not pediatric brain tumors, which are the second most common malignancy in children and the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the pediatric population. Addressing the needs of these children is a growing concern of several professional neuro-oncology-related societies. Thus, the goal of this review is to describe the current state of pediatric neuro-oncology care in the developing world, address the current and future needs of the field, and help guide professional societies' efforts to contribute in a more holistic and multidisciplinary manner. METHODS: We reviewed the literature to compare the availability of neuro-oncology care in various regions of the developing world with that in higher income nations, to describe examples of successful initiatives, and to present opportunities to improve care. RESULTS: The current challenges, previous successes, and future opportunities to improve neuro-oncology care are presented. The multidisciplinary nature of neuro-oncology depends on large teams of highly specialized individuals, including neuro-oncologists, neurosurgeons, neurologists, radiologists, radiation oncologists, pathologists, palliative care specialists, oncology nurses, physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech therapists, pediatric intensivists, and social workers, among others. CONCLUSION: Pediatric neuro-oncology is one of the most complex types of medical care to deliver, as it relies on numerous specialists, subspecialists, support staff, and physical resources and infrastructure. However, with increasing collaboration and advancing technologies, developed nations can help substantially improve neuro-oncology care for children in developing nations.
PURPOSE: As the morbidity and mortality associated with communicable diseases continue to decrease in the developing world, the medical burden of childhood cancer continues to expand. Although international aid and relief groups such as the World Health Organization recognize the importance of childhood cancer, their main emphasis is on the more easily treated malignancies, such as leukemias and lymphomas, and not pediatric brain tumors, which are the second most common malignancy in children and the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the pediatric population. Addressing the needs of these children is a growing concern of several professional neuro-oncology-related societies. Thus, the goal of this review is to describe the current state of pediatric neuro-oncology care in the developing world, address the current and future needs of the field, and help guide professional societies' efforts to contribute in a more holistic and multidisciplinary manner. METHODS: We reviewed the literature to compare the availability of neuro-oncology care in various regions of the developing world with that in higher income nations, to describe examples of successful initiatives, and to present opportunities to improve care. RESULTS: The current challenges, previous successes, and future opportunities to improve neuro-oncology care are presented. The multidisciplinary nature of neuro-oncology depends on large teams of highly specialized individuals, including neuro-oncologists, neurosurgeons, neurologists, radiologists, radiation oncologists, pathologists, palliative care specialists, oncology nurses, physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech therapists, pediatric intensivists, and social workers, among others. CONCLUSION: Pediatric neuro-oncology is one of the most complex types of medical care to deliver, as it relies on numerous specialists, subspecialists, support staff, and physical resources and infrastructure. However, with increasing collaboration and advancing technologies, developed nations can help substantially improve neuro-oncology care for children in developing nations.
Authors: Raul C Ribeiro; Eva Steliarova-Foucher; Ian Magrath; Jean Lemerle; Tim Eden; Caty Forget; Isabel Mortara; Isabelle Tabah-Fisch; Jose Julio Divino; Thomas Miklavec; Scott C Howard; Franco Cavalli Journal: Lancet Oncol Date: 2008-08 Impact factor: 41.316
Authors: Yuri Quintana; Aman N Patel; Magada Arreola; Federico G Antillon; Raul C Ribeiro; Scott C Howard Journal: Stud Health Technol Inform Date: 2013
Authors: Mohammad H Abu Arja; Joseph R Stanek; Andrés E Morales La Madrid; Alvaro Lassaletta; Ute Bartels; Ibrahim Qaddoumi; Jonathan L Finlay; Diana S Osorio Journal: Childs Nerv Syst Date: 2018-11-14 Impact factor: 1.475
Authors: Moawia Mohammed Ali Elhassan; Haytham Hussein Mohammed Osman; Jeannette Parkes Journal: Childs Nerv Syst Date: 2017-04-21 Impact factor: 1.475
Authors: Ciaran Scott Hill; Sara Castro Devesa; William Ince; Anouk Borg; Kristian Aquilina Journal: Childs Nerv Syst Date: 2020-06-18 Impact factor: 1.475
Authors: Daniel C Moreira; Revathi Rajagopal; Regina M Navarro-Martin Del Campo; Ana C Polanco; Ana Patricia Alcasabas; Luis A Arredondo-Navarro; Danny Campos; Sandro Casavilca-Zambrano; Rosdali Yesenia Diaz Coronado; Nor Faizal; Dharmendra Ganesan; Syed Ahmer Hamid; Rafeah Khan; Kathleen Khu; Jasmin Loh; Marissa Lukban; Tatiana Negreiros; Estuardo Pineda; Nausheen Yaqoob; Nida Zia; Amar Gajjar; Carlos Rodriguez-Galindo; Ibrahim Qaddoumi Journal: JCO Glob Oncol Date: 2020-04