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Medulloblastoma

Last reviewed: 10 Nov 2024
Last updated: 23 Jun 2023

Summary

Definition

History and exam

Key diagnostic factors

  • headache
  • nausea and vomiting
Full details

Other diagnostic factors

  • behavioral changes
  • diplopia
  • ophthalmoplegias
  • bulging anterior fontanelle
  • papilledema
  • nystagmus
  • head tilt
  • ataxia
  • dysmetria
Full details

Risk factors

  • age 3-8 years
  • male sex
  • associated inherited familial syndromes
Full details

Diagnostic tests

1st tests to order

  • brain MRI
  • brain CT
  • histology
  • cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine MRI
  • lumbar puncture
Full details

Tests to consider

  • postoperative MRI
Full details

Treatment algorithm

ACUTE

age <3 years

age ≥3 years

Contributors

Authors

Gail Horan, MB, BcH, BAO, BMed Sci, MRCPI, FRCR

Consultant Clinical Oncologist

Department of Oncology

Addenbrooke's Hospital

Cambridge

UK

Disclosures

GH carries out lectures and paid consultancy work for Janssen, and holds shares in GenesisCare. GH is the author of a reference cited in this topic.

Fiona Harris, MBChB, MRCP, FRCR

Consultant Clinical Oncologist

Addenbrookes Hospital

Cambridge

UK

Disclosures

FH declares that she has no competing interests.

Thankamma V. Ajithkumar, MBBS, DMRT, MD, FRCR, FRCPEdin, MBA

Consultant Clinical Oncologist

Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Cambridge

UK

Disclosures

TVA is the author of a reference cited in this topic.

Acknowledgements

Dr Gail Horan, Dr Fiona Harris, and Dr Thankamma V. Ajithkumar would like to gratefully acknowledge Dr Sindu Vivekanandan, Dr Barry Pizer, Dr Michael J. Fisher, Dr Phillip B. Storm, and Dr Gregory G. Heuer, the previous contributors to this topic.

Disclosures

SV, BP, MJF, PBS, and GGH declare that they have no competing interests.

Peer reviewers

David Rowed, MD

Division of Neurosurgery

University of Toronto

Toronto

Ontario

Canada

Disclosures

DR declares that he has no competing interests.

Michael Vloeberghs, MD, PhD

Professor of Paediatric Neurosurgery

Nottingham University Hospital

Nottingham

UK

Disclosures

MV declares that he has no competing interests.

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