Advances in Diagnostic Strategies and Surgical Management of Pediatric Brain and Spinal Tumors: A Systematic Literature Review

Pediatric brain and spinal tumors require precise diagnostic evaluation and function-preserving surgical care because tumor biology, location, resectability, and long-term neurological consequences vary widely.Current evidence is distributed across imaging studies, molecular analyses, intraoperative adjunct evaluations, surgical cohorts, and neurocognitive outcome reports, limiting an integrated understanding of recent diagnostic and operative advances.This systematic review evaluated recent evidence on diagnostic strategies and surgical management of pediatric central nervous system tumors, with attention to magnetic resonance imaging, histopathology, molecular markers, intraoperative tools, extent of resection, postoperative morbidity, survival, recurrence, and functional outcomes.Searches were conducted in PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, Google Scholar, and Web of Science according to PRISMA 2020.After duplicate removal and screening, 10 studies were included.MRI and histopathological confirmation were the dominant diagnostic approaches.Molecular profiling, particularly BRAF V600E status, supported prognostic assessment in pediatric low-grade glioma.Sodium fluorescein and intraoperative ultrasound improved tumor localization and residual disease assessment.Surgical findings supported maximal safe resection, with gross total resection beneficial in selected tumors, although subtotal resection was not uniformly associated with poor outcome.Long-term neurological, cognitive, and behavioral monitoring remained essential.Integrated multidisciplinary, risk-adapted, and function-preserving care should guide pediatric neuro-oncology practice.