Risk Factors

A risk factor is anything that increases a person’s chance of developing a tumor. Some risk factors can be controlled, such as smoking, and some cannot be controlled, such as age and family history. Although risk factors can influence the development of cancer, most do not directly cause cancer. Some people with several risk factors never develop cancer, while others with no known risk factors do.

Doctors and researchers don’t know what causes most childhood tumors. Some evidence indicates that genetic factors may play a role in a small percentage of children with cerebral astrocytoma. For example, children who have neurofibromatosis may have an increased risk of developing astrocytoma. Neurofibromatosis is an inherited disorder that causes neurofibromas (a type of noncancerous tumor) to form on peripheral nerves in the body, brown spots on the skin, and tissue and bone deformities. Neurofibromatosis is also called Recklinghausen’s disease or von Recklinghausen’s disease. Learn more about Neurofibromatosis Type 1 and Neurofibromatosis Type 2. Other, less common genetic conditions associated with a higher risk of CNS tumors include Li-Fraumeni syndrome, tuberous sclerosis, nevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome, and Turcot syndrome.