Cerebellar medulloblastoma in adults.
From 1960 through 1981, 15 patients with cerebellar medulloblastoma, aged 16 years or over, were referred for irradiation following surgery. All patients received craniospinal irradiation; three patients received adjuvant chemotherapy. Five-year and 10-year survival rates of 63% and 38%, respectively, were obtained. The main cause of treatment failure was tumor recurrence in the posterior fossa. All local recurrences presented late, none developing within the first 3 years. One patient suffered systemic disease. The prognosis following relapse was poor. One patient achieved a prolonged remission following further surgery and radiotherapy, but died of treatment-related complications. The majority of the survivors are free of major deficit. One patient developed paraplegia 10 years after treatment. The possible risk of late damage to the hypothalamic-pituitary axis is discussed.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002528:Cerebellar Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008527:Medulloblastoma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local