A 'GAMECHANGING' cancer test could give children with brain cancer an accurate diagnosis in 10 minutes, scientists say. There are four types of medulloblastoma - the most common brain tumour in children - but it can take weeks for current tests to pinpoint the type for treatment to begin. The tumours are fast-growing and likely to spread to other areas of the brain and spinal cord, with about 52 children diagnosed with them each year.
New researchers from the University of Birmingham and Newcastle University say they've found a quicker and less invasive way of diagnosing medulloblastomas. All you want is for your child to be given the best possible treatment right from the start The team of scientists accurately identified the chemical signature of each type of tumour using MRI scans, after testing cancer samples. Lead author Andrew Peet, Emeritus Professor of Clinical Paediatric Oncology at the University of Birmingham, said: “Time is so important in cancer diagnosis so our findings on different types of medulloblastoma having a detectable signature metabolism could be game changing for quickly diagnosing, and then offering the best possible treatment for children.
” Medulloblastoma tumours are usually diagnosed using brain and spine MRI scans. Medics might also collect a small sample of cerebrospinal fluid - called a lumbar puncture - or take a sample of the tumour to test it. This process is called a biopsy and for brain cancer it's usually done at the same time as surg.