Medulloblastoma 

  • Author: George I Jallo, MD; Chief Editor: Amy Kao, MD   more...
 
Updated: Mar 9, 2012
 

Background

First used by Bailey and Cushing in 1925[1] , the term medulloblastoma described a series of tumors found in the cerebella of children. Originally classified as a glioma, medulloblastoma is referred to now as a primitive neuroectodermal tumor (PNET). This tumor accounts for approximately 7-8% of all intracranial tumors and 30% of pediatric brain tumors.

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Pathophysiology

In the brain, medulloblastoma most often arises in the posterior fossa as shown in the image below. The tumor has the propensity of spreading throughout the CNS. Systemic metastases of this tumor, especially to bone, also have been recognized.

CT scan demonstrates a hyperdense lesion within thCT scan demonstrates a hyperdense lesion within the posterior fossa of an 8-year-old boy who presented with nausea and vomiting.
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Epidemiology

Frequency

United States

Incidence of medulloblastoma is 1.5-2 cases per 100,000 population, with 350 new cases in the United States each year. Although the majority occur as sporadic cases, hereditary conditions have been associated with medulloblastoma, including (1) Gorlin syndrome (nevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome), (2) blue rubber-bleb nevus syndrome, (3) Turcot syndrome (eg, glioma polyposis syndrome), and (4) Rubinstein-Taybi syndrome.

International

Incidence of medulloblastoma worldwide seems to approximate that in the United States.

Mortality/Morbidity

  • Hydrocephalus: The most common complication is hydrocephalus due to compression of the normal cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) pathways. Although this is a common complication, only 10-50% of patients with preoperative hydrocephalus will need a long-term ventricular shunt. Some children can be treated with an endoscopic third ventriculostomy.
  • Cerebellar dysfunction: Tumor infiltration of the cerebellum usually is in the midline, leading to difficulties with ambulation and truncal ataxia. This is more common than signs attributable to the cerebellar hemisphere (eg, extremity dysmetria).
  • Leptomeningeal dissemination: One of the most feared complications of medulloblastoma is dissemination within the CSF. Medical and, less commonly, surgical therapy must be directed at controlling dissemination to cranial nerves and spinal cord and related structures. This dissemination of disease portends to a high-risk stratification.

Race

No specific predilection for a particular racial or ethnic group has been noted.

Sex

Medulloblastoma is more common in males than females (1.5:1). Males also tend to have a poorer prognosis.

Age

Although predominantly a pediatric tumor, medulloblastoma can affect patients of any age from neonates to the elderly. Three quarters of all cases occur in children, with a median age of 9 years.

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Contributor Information and Disclosures
Author

George I Jallo, MD  Professor of Neurosurgery, Pediatrics, and Oncology, Director, Clinical Pediatric Neurosurgery, Department of Neurosurgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine

George I Jallo, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Association of Neurological Surgeons, American Medical Association, and American Society of Pediatric Neurosurgeons

Disclosure: Codman (Johnson & Johnson) Grant/research funds Consulting; Medtronic Grant/research funds Consulting

Coauthor(s)

Alvin Marcovici, MD  Consulting Staff, Southcoast Neurosurgery

Alvin Marcovici, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Association of Neurological Surgeons, Congress of Neurological Surgeons, and Phi Beta Kappa

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Specialty Editor Board

Raj D Sheth, MD  Professor, Mayo College of Medicine; Chief, Division of Pediatric Neurology, Nemours Children's Clinic

Raj D Sheth, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Neurology, American Academy of Pediatrics, American Epilepsy Society, American Neurological Association, and Child Neurology Society

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD  Adjunct Assistant Professor, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Pharmacy; Editor-in-Chief, Medscape Drug Reference

Disclosure: Medscape Salary Employment

Kenneth J Mack, MD, PhD  Senior Associate Consultant, Department of Child and Adolescent Neurology, Mayo Clinic

Kenneth J Mack, MD, PhD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Neurology, Child Neurology Society, Phi Beta Kappa, and Society for Neuroscience

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Amy Kao, MD  Attending Neurologist, Children's National Medical Center

Amy Kao, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Neurology, American Academy of Pediatrics, American Epilepsy Society, and Child Neurology Society

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

References

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CT scan demonstrates a hyperdense lesion within the posterior fossa of an 8-year-old boy who presented with nausea and vomiting.
T1-weighted sagittal MRI of an 8-year-old boy who presented with nausea and vomiting reveals an enhancing tumor within the fourth ventricle. The child underwent a suboccipital craniotomy and resection of his medulloblastoma.
T1-weighted sagittal MRI of 4-year-old boy who presented with gait ataxia and precocious puberty. MRI shows a heterogenous enhancing tumor located within the fourth ventricle with marked hydrocephalus.
T1-weighted axial MRI shows heterogeneous enhancement of the medulloblastoma in a 4-year-old boy who presented with gait ataxia and precocious puberty.
Coronal MRI confirms the presence of the tumor within the fourth ventricle of a 4-year-old boy who presented with gait ataxia and precocious puberty.
High-power magnification hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) section of a typical medulloblastoma
 
 
 
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