The Kentucky Department for Public Health says the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has joined an investigation into an unusually high number of DIPG cases in Eastern Kentucky.
Since 2024, the Kentucky Cancer Registry has confirmed 10 DIPG cases among young people in Eastern Kentucky. By comparison, only two or three cases are typically reported statewide in an entire year.
Public health officials said they have met several times with the CDC, the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, and other agencies to determine whether environmental factors might be linked to the increase.
The CDC has agreed to analyze data from multiple states to identify possible connections among DIPG cases, according to state officials, who have provided the information needed for the review.
Gov. Andy Beshear’s office said he was unavailable for an interview about the issue. In a statement, he said: “There is no known environmental or hereditary cause for DIPG currently, which presents a significant challenge for teams working to identify a contributing cause for a rise in cases like we have seen in Eastern Kentucky.”
Beshear also said, “As a dad, and as someone who came to know and admire David Turner Jr. and his family, I’m committed to supporting the families affected and am having my administration work to secure additional support from the federal government. Since I took office, we have directed a record $45.5 million toward pediatric cancer research and family support, and we will continue this commitment to support childhood cancer patients and their families as we fight to find a cure.”
Beshear described what officials know so far and how the state is responding. "What we do know is there's an unusually high number of children in a smaller geographic area - but still spread out over a number of counties - that have been diagnosed," Beshear said.
He said investigators will look for possible links among the cases while acknowledging the limits of current knowledge. "We're going to try to determine if there is some connection between them, but this is one of those really challenging diagnoses that we still as a country don't know enough about," Beshear added.
DIPG stands for Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma, a rare, aggressive, and fast-growing type of brain tumor that mostly affects young children between the ages of 5 and 10.
Breaking Down the Name
Diffuse: The tumor cells spread through the healthy tissue instead of forming a single, clear mass.
Intrinsic: The tumor starts from deep inside the tissue of the brainstem.
Pontine: It is located in the pons, the middle part of the brainstem that handles vital body tasks like breathing and heart rate.
Glioma: It is a tumor that grows from glial cells, which are the support cells of the brain. Doctors also call it a type of diffuse midline glioma (DMG).
Common Signs and Symptoms
Trouble with balance, walking, or coordination
Double vision or abnormal eye movements
Weakness or drooping on one side of the face
Slurred speech and trouble swallowing
Treatment and Outlook
Because the tumor grows directly inside and through vital brainstem areas, doctors cannot safely remove it with surgery.
Standard treatments include radiation therapy and steroids to help reduce swelling and manage symptoms.
For current medical definitions and patient guides, you can visit the National Cancer Institute or the American Childhood Cancer Organization.
Comments
No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here