Did You Know?
On this page, we have collected many facts, statistics, and information about childhhood hydrocephalus and brain tumors. We were amazed be many of these when we first learned about them, and we believe you will be too. Through the effort of the Samantha Smiles Foundation, we hope to be able to change several of these facts, through helping enable advances to research, diagnosis, and treatments for childhood hydrocephalus and brain tumors.
Hydrocephalus
Did you know?
Some facts about Hydrocephalus:
Fact #1
◦ According to National Institute of Health, hydrocephalus affects one in every 500 live births, making hydrocephalus more common than Downs syndrome or Deafness. (In the US, it is estimated to be one in every 1,000 live births)
Fact #2
◦ Hydrocephalus is the number one reason for brain surgery among children
Fact #3
◦ Shunts have a very high failure rate that has not improved since shunts were developed more than 50 years ago. Nationwide, the first shunt fails for nearly all hydrocephalus patients: 30% fail within the first year, 40% fail within two years, and 98% fail within 10 years. (Shunt failure means a child needs surgery to re-place or reprogram the shunt).
Fact #4
◦ Approximately 85% of people with shunts have had at least two shunt operations
Fact #5
◦ More than 50% of hydrocephalus cases are congenital
Fact #6
◦ There is currently no cure for hydrocephalus
Fact #7
◦ Nationwide, the shunt infection rate among children is upwards of 15%
Brain Tumors
Did you know?
Some facts about Brain Tumors in children:
Fact #1
◦ Approx. 4,300 new cases of childhood primary brain and CNS tumors are expected to be diagnosed in the US in 2013. Of these, approx. 3,050 will be in children under 15 yrs. of age
Fact #2
◦ Brain tumors are the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in children under 10.
Fact #3
◦ Brain tumors are the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in children under age 20.
Fact #4
◦ Five year relative survival rates following diagnosis of a primary malignant brain and CNS tumors is 73% for children 0-19 yrs. old.
Fact #5
◦ All brain or CNS tumors (either benign or malignant) can be dangerous, and non-malignant tumors can grow and become malignant.
Fact #6
◦ Children who have undergone radiation are at risk for secondary brain tumors, which can be malignant or non-malignant, and these tumors usually occur at least 10 years after radiation.
