ON THIS PAGE: You will find some basic information about this disease and the parts of the body it may affect. This is the first page of Cancer.Net’s Guide to Desmoplastic Infantile Ganglioglioma (DIG). Use the menu to see other pages. Think of that menu as a roadmap for this entire guide.

Desmoplastic infantile ganglioglioma, or DIG, is a rare type of brain tumor that can occur during childhood. A tumor begins when healthy cells change and grow out of control, forming a mass. DIG is a glioma, which is a type of tumor that starts in the glial cells. Glial cells are the supportive cells in the brain. DIG usually occurs on 1 side of the brain, and it can be very large. It is most commonly found in children younger than 18 months. Many times, DIG may have started very early in childhood or even before a child was born.

DIGs are generally classified as low-grade, slow-growing tumors. Generally speaking, DIGs are benign (not cancerous or malignant). However, because they are located in the brain and require surgery, DIGs are potentially life-threatening.

This section covers DIG diagnosed in children. Learn more about brain tumors in adults.

Looking for More of an Introduction?

If you would like more of an introduction, explore this related item. Please note that this link will take you to another section on Cancer.Net:

• Cancer.Net Patient Education Video: View a short video led by an ASCO expert in childhood cancer that provides basic information and areas of research.

The next section in this guide is Statistics. It explains that DIG is rare. Use the menu to choose a different section to read in this guide.