When families hear the words DIPG or DMG, they are hearing the name of one of the most aggressive pediatric brain tumors.

Here’s the simple difference:

DIPG (Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma) is a tumor that grows in a very specific part of the brainstem called the pons. It primarily affects children and is extremely difficult to treat because of its location.

DMG (Diffuse Midline Glioma) is the newer medical term doctors now use. It describes tumors that grow in the midline of the brain or spinal cord and share a specific genetic mutation that makes them particularly aggressive- H3K27.

In today’s medical classification, most DIPGs are now categorized under DMG. The name has evolved because science has advanced, but the urgency has not changed.

These tumors:

• Cannot be surgically removed

• Have limited treatment options

• Have seen little improvement in survival rates over decades

Why this matters for donors:

The shift from DIPG to DMG reflects progress in understanding the biology of these tumors. That deeper understanding is what drives modern research, targeted therapies, and clinical trials.

Your support helps:

• Fund research focused on the genetic drivers of these tumors

• Support families facing devastating diagnoses

• Accelerate the development of better treatment options

Whether called DIPG or DMG, the mission remains the same:
To fund better treatments, extend survival, and one day find a cure.