title: Posterior fossa medulloblastoma in children and young adults (0-19 years): survival and performance.
abstract: The objective of this study was to present survival data and outcome status in the long-term survivors of a consecutive series of 111 children and young adults treated for posterior fossa medulloblastoma in our departments from 1960 to 1997. The total surgical mortality was 13%. The surgical mortality rate declined significantly during the time period overall, from 23% before 1970 to 0% after 1990. The 5-year survival rate for patients treated between 1960 and 1973 was 0%, while 5-year survival for patients treated after the introduction of systematic craniospinal radiation in 1974 was 53%. Thirty-four patients were alive at the close of this study, with a mean observation time of 13.5 years. Over half, 61%, of the patients had one or more major deficits/problems with respect to learning ability, power of locomotion, sociability, hobbies and relationships with the opposite sex. A younger age at the time of treatment was correlated with larger deficits/problems in these variables. The correlation between young age at the time of treatment and short final height was significant. The frequency of a second neoplasm was 14%. In all but 3 cases the major cause of permanent deficits/problems was radiation therapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, The National Hospital, N-0027 Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Helseth
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Due-Tonnessen
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Wesenberg
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lote
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lundar
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001827:Body Height; D001835:Body Weight; D002528:Cerebellar Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality* / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003388:Cranial Fossa, Posterior; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D017567:Karnofsky Performance Status; D007858:Learning; D008124:Locomotion; D008297:Male; D008527:Medulloblastoma / Q000401:mortality* / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery; D016609:Neoplasms, Second Primary / Q000209:etiology; D009664:Norway / Q000453:epidemiology; D016019:Survival Analysis; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome