A retrospective analysis of the CT and MR findings of 14 pediatric patients with brain stem tumors was performed to evaluate whether the clinical outcome could be predicted from a radiographic pattern of the tumors. CT was performed in 11 patients and MR was performed in 14 patients. Ten patients were treated with radiation therapy(RT) alone, 2 patients with RT and chemotherapy, and 2 patients underwent subtotal resection. After treatment, 9 patients died within 10 months, and 5 patients were alive for 9 months to 51 months. There was no statistically significant correlation between survival and tumor location or size, but in 2 cases of exophytic growing tumor, a subtotal resection of the tumor with a cystic portion and definite rim enhancement revealed a poor response to conventional RT, and all 6 patients died within 10 months. In conclusion, a better prognosis is predicted in the case of an exophytic growing tumor after surgical resection, but the difinite ring-enhancing tumor showed a poor response on conventional RT. Also, we should consider a more active therapeutic approach such as hyperfractionated RT or combinations of chemotherapy to improve the prognosis.