Medulloblastoma natural history

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Syed Musadiq Ali M.B.B.S.[2]Haytham Allaham, M.D. [3]

Overview

If left untreated, patients with medulloblastoma may progress to develop ataxia, nystagmus, and positional dizziness. Common complications of medulloblastoma include hydrocephalus, decerebrate attacks, and cranial nerve palsies. Prognosis is generally good, the 5-year survival rate of patients with medulloblastoma is approximately 69%.^[1]

Natural History

Most patients with medulloblastoma are initially asymptomatic. If left untreated, most of the patients with medulloblastoma will develop ataxia, nystagmus, and positional dizziness within a few months.^[1]

Complications

Common complications of medulloblastoma include:^[1]

Increased intracranial pressure
Third, fourth, and sixth cranial nerve palsy
Decerebrate attacks

Prognosis

Medulloblastoma prognosis is generally good.
The 5-year survival rate of patients with medulloblastoma is approximately 69%.^[1]
The 10-year survival rate of patients with medulloblastoma is approximately 52%.
Younger age in children is associated with worse prognosis.^[2]
The prognosis varies with the molecular subgroup of medulloblastoma, such as:^[1]

Medulloblastoma WNT molecular subgroup is associated with the most favorable prognosis.
Medulloblastoma Group 4 and SHH molecular subgroups are associated with an intermediate prognosis.
Medulloblastoma Group 3 molecular subgroup is associated with a poor prognosis.

References

↑ ^1.0 ^1.1 ^1.2 ^1.3 ^1.4 Medulloblastoma. Wikipedia(2015) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medulloblastoma Accessed on September 25, 2015
↑ Saran FH, Driever PH, Thilmann C, Mose S, Wilson P, Sharpe G; et al. (1998). “Survival of very young children with medulloblastoma (primitive neuroectodermal tumor of the posterior fossa) treated with craniospinal irradiation”. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 42 (5): 959–67. PMID 9869216.

Template:WikiDoc Sources

[wiki-1] 1.0 ^1.1 ^1.2 ^1.3 ^1.4 Medulloblastoma. Wikipedia(2015) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medulloblastoma Accessed on September 25, 2015

[pmid9869216-2] Saran FH, Driever PH, Thilmann C, Mose S, Wilson P, Sharpe G; et al. (1998). “Survival of very young children with medulloblastoma (primitive neuroectodermal tumor of the posterior fossa) treated with craniospinal irradiation”. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 42 (5): 959–67. PMID 9869216.

[1]

[2]