What is DIPG?

Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma

DIPG, or diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma, is a type of brain tumor found in an area of the brainstem known as the pons, the part of the brain just above the back of the neck and connected to the spine. The brain stem controls breathing, heart rate and the nerves and muscles that help us see, hear, walk, talk and eat. These tumors are called gliomas because they grow from glial cells, a type of supportive cell in the brain. The name diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma describes how the tumor grows, where it is found, and what kinds of cells give rise to the tumor.

Brain tumors are now the most common cancer and cause of cancer-related death in children less than 15 years of age. They are the most common solid tumor in children – accounting for approximately 25% of all childhood cancers. Diffuse intrinsic pontine gliomas (DIPG) are the most common brainstem tumors in children, representing approximately 75-80% of all pediatric brainstem tumors.

https://www.dipg.org/facts/dipg-survival-rate-and-prognosis/