A health history and physical exam helps doctors learn about symptoms, general health, past illness, and risk factors.Diagnosis usually includes a health history and physical exam, neurological exam, blood tests, and imaging tests. Depending on the type of tumor and how fast it grows, it can sometimes be a while before a tumor is diagnosed. Early symptoms are often similar to other childhood illnesses. Symptoms of brain and spinal cord tumors can be mild and hard to recognize at first.
Symptoms of spinal cord tumors include back or neck pain, weakness in arms or legs, difficulty walking, and problems going to the bathroom.
Weakness, numbness, tingling, or changes in feeling on one side (arm or leg or both) of the body. Symptoms related to endocrine problems or changes in hormones such as increased thirst or early puberty. Unexplained weight change (gain or loss). Feeling tired or changes in activity level. Loss of balance, coordination problems, or difficulty walking. Typical presentation of headache and nausea/vomiting may not be seen. Nausea and vomiting, especially in the morning*. They might not follow a typical or predictable pattern. The symptoms may be subtle, or they may come and go. Many childhood CNS tumors are slow growing. Symptoms depend on where the tumor is located, the size of the tumor, how fast the tumor grows, and the child’s age and stage of development. There are many types of tumors that form in the brain and spinal cord, and symptoms can vary widely. Signs and Symptoms of Brain and Spinal Tumors Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG). Atypical Teratoid / Rhabdoid Tumor (AT/RT). This cancer forms in the cerebellum, in the back area of the brain in a region known as the posterior fossa. The most common malignant brain tumor in children is medulloblastoma. Gliomas may be benign or malignant and can occur in different areas of the brain and the spinal cord. They form from glial cells, which make up the supportive tissue of the brain. Of pediatric brain tumors, about half are tumors called gliomas or astrocytomas. Brain and spinal cord tumors are the leading cause of pediatric cancer deaths. There are about 4,100 new cases of CNS tumors in the United States each year. Approximately 20% of childhood cancers begin in the brain or spinal cord. 
Brain and spinal cord tumors are the 2nd most common type of cancer in children after leukemia.
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