WHO classification of the tumors of the central nervous system

The WHO classification of tumors of the central nervous system is a globally common and generally accepted classification of brain tumors by the World Health Organization ( WHO).

Classification

While it is merely a collection of well-established tumor entities in the actual WHO classification, the accompanying histological definition of the various tumors along with their immunohistochemical and molecular genetic characteristics of an important resource for the neuropathological diagnosis and enables consistency and global comparability of neuropathological findings. The grading of the different tumor entities is of particular clinical importance because of their prognostic value.

Graduation

The histological Gradierungsschema the WHO classification allows through various tumor types across a certain prediction of the biological behavior of a brain tumor. In the clinical context, tumor grade has an essential role in the decision of adjuvant chemotherapy or radiotherapy.

The WHO grade represents only one component among a variety of criteria that ultimately influence the prognosis of a brain tumor. Other important factors include the localization of the tumor, the possibility of its full neurosurgical distance, the response of the tumor to chemotherapy and radiotherapy as well as the age of the patient.

History

The decision to create the WHO classification of tumors of the central nervous system goes back to the year 1956, the first edition was published in 1979 by Klaus -Joachim Zülch. At the current fourth edition, which was published in 2007, worked with over 70 authors from 19 countries.