2019 Volume 28 Issue 2 Pages 65-71
The recent three decades in Japan were marked by a rapid decline in the pediatric population. Therefore, neurosurgeons, except those in children’s hospitals, have less frequently experienced diseases in pediatric neurosurgery. As a result, the disparities in medical treatment levels of pediatric neurosurgery among institutions and regions in Japan appear to be worsening. To address this issue, the Japanese Society for Pediatric Neurosurgery (JSPN) in collaboration with the Japan Neurosurgical Society (JNS) has established the system of certified member of JSPN to maintain and improve the medical treatment levels in pediatric neurosurgery. JSPN has been trying to develop clinical practice guidelines for pediatric brain tumors with the help of the Japan Society for Neuro-Oncology (JSNO) and those for other major pediatric neurosurgical diseases. In addition, to provide more advanced medical treatments, JSPN in cooperation with JSNO has established Japan Pediatric Molecular Neuro-oncology Group to perform molecular classifications of pediatric tumors in the central nervous system. JSPN is also supporting multicenter joint clinical trials on pediatric brain tumors, which has been conducted by the Brain Tumor Committee of the Japan Children’s Cancer Group. With the support of JNS, JSPN has recently started a clinical research on the long-term results of shunted hydrocephalic children in Japan. Moreover, JSPN has been trying to strengthen active relationships of the academic societies between Japan and foreign countries to improve the international position of Japan in the field of pediatric neurosurgery. The abovementioned activities could provide increased chances and experiences for young neurosurgeons in pediatric neurosurgery. More importantly, at least two certified members of JSPN are supposed to be continuously working in university hospitals, which are teaching hospitals for young neurosurgeons. JSPN sincerely requests that in all university hospitals, as in children’s hospitals, a number of certified members of JSPN intensively show the charms of pediatric neurosurgery to neurosurgical trainees and young board-certified neurosurgeons. The author hopes that such efforts derived from JSPN will foster successors of pediatric neurosurgeons to dispel concerns about the near future in the field of pediatric neurosurgery in Japan.
