Children with brain and spinal tumors account for 20-25 per cent of childhood cancers. Until the early 1990s there had been little progress in the development of new treatments, and outcomes were not improving despite advances seen in other childhood cancers. During the past 10 years, however, there has been a dramatic increase in interest in the subject among pediatric specialists worldwide, and new multidisciplinary teams have become established. There are encouraging early signs of improvement in outcomes, and more are anticipated. The appearance of this comprehensive, but practical, evidence-based review of brain and spinal tumors in children is therefore very timely. The contrent includes detailed coverage of the diagnosis, clinical management, after care and monitoring, and underlying biology of brain and spinal tumors in children. International in approach, it draws on the experience of the European Childhood Brain Tumour Committee, linked to the International Society of Paediatric Oncology, and various multicentre clinical trials to reflect the various approaches to management that have arisen around the world.