Medulloblastoma with melanotic differentiation: case report and review of the literature.
Medulloblastoma with melanotic differentiation, a rare variant of medulloblastoma, often carries a poor prognosis. We present such a case of a 4 year male with this rare, aggressive tumor. Additionally, we have reviewed the literature and report on the features important in the pathologic and radiologic diagnosis in this type of tumor, as well as review clinical outcomes. This subtype of medulloblastoma occurs more frequently in males, at a younger median age than the other subtypes of medulloblastoma. The prognosis is generally very poor. However, it is important to note, that a subset of patients with M0 disease who can achieve a gross total resection followed by radiation and platinum based chemotherapy can become long term survivors of this aggressive subtype of medulloblastoma.
Division of Hematology/Oncology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA. christine.phillips@cchmc.org
Christine L
CL
Phillips
Lili
L
Miles
Blaise V
BV
Jones
Mary
M
Sutton
Kerry
K
Crone
Maryam
M
Fouladi
D002528:Cerebellar Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006801:Humans; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008527:Medulloblastoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D018396:Mucin-1 / Q000378:metabolism; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D011878:Radiotherapy; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
D019394:Ki-67 Antigen; D018396:Mucin-1; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins