Blog

Research opens a window into understanding deadly brain tumors

Formerly known as diffuse intrinsic pontine gliomas, diffuse midline gliomas (DMGs) are highly aggressive tumors found in the midline of the brain. Their prognosis is very poor, in part because they don’t respond well to treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation. Now, research by Mariella Filbin, MD, PhD, and others in the Brain Tumor Center ... Read More

Superando as dificuldades da síndrome de Apert: a história do João

Depois de uma gravidez “perfeita” em 2017, os brasileiros Natália e Igor estavam emocionados por conhecer seu terceiro filho. Eles ficaram chocados quando os médicos arrebataram João uns instantes após o parto. “Até o momento em que ele nasceu, tudo parecia muito normal”, afirma Natália. “Mas quando ele chegou, imediatamente percebemos que havia algo errado: ... Read More

Understanding BRUEs: Recent study sheds light

Brief resolved unexplained events (BRUEs) are episodes marked by concerning changes in breathing, consciousness, muscle tone, and skin color (cyanosis or paleness). They tend to occur in previously healthy infants and send worried parents racing to the emergency department. However, researchers know little about the risk of persistent symptoms after BRUE hospitalizations. To learn more, ... Read More

‘Mom, my brain feels better.’ One mother’s story of her daughter’s fight with epilepsy

Liliane has a lot to be grateful for this holiday season. Until just this year, her 16-year-old daughter Emily, who has epilepsy, suffered relentless seizures that left her temporarily unable to speak or stand. The seizures began when Emily was 4, and living her life around them was all she knew. But today, Emily is ... Read More

What every family should know about RSV

To help keep your family safe and informed about respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), we spoke to Dr. Kathleen Conroy, Clinical Chief for Children’s Hospital Primary Care Center (CHPCC). What is RSV and what are the symptoms? RSV is a virus that causes upper and lower respiratory tract infections, most commonly in children and infants; however, ... Read More

AI could change the way we look at hip preservation

Orthopedic surgeons and biomedical engineers are trained to approach adolescent and young adult hip pain from two different perspectives. Surgeons typically look at conditions such as femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) and hip dysplasia from a clinical point of view. Engineers more often focus on the technology angle. These two perspectives have come together at Boston Children’s ... Read More

After retinoblastoma, Finn ‘keeps on showing us what he can do’

Six-year-old Finn Carlson “isn’t afraid of anything,” says his mother, Shannon. Whether he’s playing with firetrucks, chasing after his twin, Mack, or riding the tractor on his grandparents’ dairy farm, he’s always up for an adventure. His fearless, free-spirited attitude is even more impressive considering the challenges he’s faced. Born at just 24 weeks, Finn ... Read More

I-PASS this patient to you: Improved hospital ‘handoffs’ cut adverse events by almost half

About 15 years ago, Boston Children’s Hospital pediatricians Christopher Landrigan, MD, MPH, and Amy Starmer, MD, MPH, observed a weak link in hospital care. Medical residents were rigorously trained to take patient histories with standardized templates and to present cases in a structured format during daily rounds. Yet such structured communication was largely absent at ... Read More

‘On fire’ with sJIA: When arthritis is much more than joint pain

Georgia is finally living her best life. Her toddler years were challenging: At 15 months old, a series of high fevers landed her at Boston Children’s Hospital for two weeks. After many rounds of tests looking for infection and a bone marrow biopsy to rule out cancer, she was diagnosed with systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis ... Read More

Explaining endometriosis: What parents and teens should know

People with uteruses know that menstruation can bring cramps, general discomfort, mood swings, and other symptoms each month. But, just how much discomfort and pain is normal during your period? For more insights on severe period pain — and endometriosis in particular — we spoke with Dr. Jessica Shim in the Division of Gynecology and ... Read More