title: Medulloblastoma: I. Clinical, diagnostic, and therapeutic overview.
abstract: Medulloblastoma, the most common embryonal tumor of the central nervous system, affects both children and adults. It poses a significant therapeutic challenge in that age-dependent differences exist, not only in their pathobiology, but in the efficacy of chemotherapy and radiotherapy. This is particularly the case in very young children, whose still developing nervous system exhibits a low tolerance to radiotherapy. We review the epidemiology, clinical presentation, radiologic features, and current therapeutic concepts relative to this unique neoplasm. Efforts are made to highlight clinical controversies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905.
authors.forename: F H
authors.initials: FH
authors.lastname: Tomlinson
authors.forename: B W
authors.initials: BW
authors.lastname: Scheithauer
authors.forename: F B
authors.initials: FB
authors.lastname: Meyer
authors.forename: W A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Smithson
authors.forename: E G
authors.initials: EG
authors.lastname: Shaw
authors.forename: G M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: R V
authors.initials: RV
authors.lastname: Groover
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002528:Cerebellar Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D002531:Cerebellum / Q000473:pathology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008527:Medulloblastoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D009366:Neoplasm Seeding; D009460:Neurologic Examination