DIPG Cancer Symptoms

DIPG is a very rare form of cerebral cancer that occurs in children. It is a serious form of cancer that is not yet well-treated.

How often does it occur?

DIPG is very rare. Each year, this diagnosis is being made in the Netherlands with 5-15 children. Most children are between 3-10 years of age when diagnosis is made.

What causes dipg brain cancer?

Probably, deviations in DNA play an important role in the development of DIPG. Research has shown that patients with this disease often have aberrations in certain genes. These are genes called H3F3A gene and HIST1H3B gene. These same abnormalities also occur in other types of cancer that occur in children, namely cancer of the hypothalamus and spinal cancer.

DIPG cancer symptoms

DIPG will not or hardly make any complaints at first. As the growth grows, the likelihood of complaints increases. The pressure in the brain then increases. The following DIPG cancer symptoms may occur:

• Headache
• Vomiting (without nausea )
• Disorders of eye movements
• Reduced awareness: drowsiness
• Pain in the back

The increased brain pressure may cause the brain nerve and the knee. This can lead to many different complaints.

Also, the increased brain pressure can cause small brain cuts. This can lead to difficulty walking and equilibrium, such as for example, shattering.



How is the diagnosis made?

Because the condition is so rare, the GP will not be able to diagnose immediately . Usually a child with complaints is referred to a pediatrician at any given time.

The pediatrician or ophthalmologist may occasionally find a swelling of the papillus of the ophthalmic eye. This is known as papiloidema and is caused by increased brain pressure.

In the hospital, imaging research will often be requested to see if the complaints can be caused by a brain defect.

What is the treatment?

DIPG is difficult to treat. Treatment usually consists of radiation (radiotherapy) and / or chemotherapy.

Beloop and forecast

Because there is no good treatment yet, most patients will die for the disease. Only less than 20% of patients are still alive two years after diagnosis.