The parents of Isabella Ortiz, who died from brain cancer, have highlighted the need for rare tissue donation, to help other children facing the same condition. At the age of 3, Isabella was diagnosed with a diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG) - a rare childhood brain tumour. There is currently no proven cure for DIPG, and most children diagnosed with the disease die within a year. In order to support vital research, Isabella’s parents have donated samples of their daughter’s brain tissue to the Institute of Cancer Research, which they describe as ‘her final gift to the world’.

these are very complicated tumors arise from most delicate part of the brain-.brain stem,they cause varied symptoms like-giddiness,hearing impairement,tinnitus,weakness all four limbs,swaying while walking,facial pain,facial palsy/weakness,difficulty in swallowing,speech disturbances,double vision,squint,abnormal behaviour.etc .MRI SCAN/CT SCAN with contrast , are diagnostic,majority of them are treated with biopsy -and radiation.when they are focal /well circumscribed micro surgical excision would help as is done in this case.surgery is highly challenging and delicate,with very high rate of morbidity and mortality.

Dr Antony Michalski from Great Ormond Street Hospital discusses the latest developments in chemotherapy for treating brain tumours in children.

Presented at the CCLG Family Day at the Royal Society of Medicine, London - 14 May 2012.