Medulloblastoma overview
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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]
Overview
Medulloblastoma is a highly malignant primary brain tumor that originates in the cerebellum or posterior fossa.
Originally considered to be a glioma, medulloblastoma is now known to be of the family of cranial primitive neuroectodermal tumors (PNET).
Tumors that originate in the cerebellum are referred to as infratentorial because they occur below the tentorium, a thick membrane that separates the cerebral hemispheres of the brain from the cerebellum. Another term for medulloblastoma is infratentorial PNET. Medulloblastoma is the most common PNET originating in the brain.[1]
All PNET tumors of the brain are invasive and rapidly growing tumors that, unlike most brain tumors, spread through the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and frequently metastasize to different locations in the brain and spine.
References
- ↑ Chris Hinz, Deneen Hesser, Focusing On Brain Tumors: Medulloblastoma, American Brain Tumor Association 2006, ISBN 0-944093-67-1.