Medulloblastoma natural history
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Medulloblastoma Microchapters |
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Diagnosis |
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Treatment |
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Case studies |
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Medulloblastoma natural history On the Web |
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American Roentgen Ray Society Images of Medulloblastoma natural history |
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Risk calculators and risk factors for Medulloblastoma natural history |
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Haytham Allaham, M.D. [2]
Overview
If left untreated, patients with medulloblastoma may progress to develop ataxia, diplopia, and positional dizziness. Common complications of medulloblastoma include hydrocephalus, decerebrate attacks, and cranial nerve palsies. Prognosis is generally excellent/good/poor, and the 1/5/10-year mortality/survival rate of patients with [disease name] is approximately [#]%.
Natural History
Complications
- Common complications of medulloblastoma include:
- Increased intracranial pressure
- Sixth cranial nerve palsy
- Decerebrate attacks
Prognosis
Treatment begins with maximal resection of the tumor. The addition of radiation to the entire neuraxis and chemotherapy may increase the disease-free survival. This combination may permit a 5 year survival in more than 80% of cases. The presence of desmoplastic features such as connective tissue formation offers a better prognosis. Prognosis is worse if child is less than 3 years old, inadequate degree of resection, or if presence of any CSF, spinal, supratentorial or systemic spread.
Increase intracranial pressure may be controlled with corticosteroids or a ventriculoperitoneal shunt