Onkologie. 2010:4(4):256-259

Medulloblastoma: the most common malignant brain tumor in children

Karel Zitterbart¹, Zdeněk Pavelka¹, Jana Zitterbartová²

¹ Klinika dětské onkologie, LF MU a FN Brno

² Klinika radiační onkologie, LF MU a Masarykův onkologický ústav, Brno

Medulloblastoma, an embryonal neuroectodermal tumor of the cerebellum, is the most common form of malignant brain tumor of childhood.

10–12 new cases occur in the Czech Republic each year. Current treatment, which combines modern techniques of neurosurgical

resection and radiotherapy, and adjuvant chemotherapy, has improved survival substantially. The intensity of multimodal therapy is based

on clinical criteria of age, metastatic disease and the extent of surgical resection. Nevertheless, 19–30 % of average risk and 30–70 % of

high risk patients experience relapses within 5 years from initial presentation. Identification of biological prognostic markers and cellular

targets will result in risk-adapted treatment, which is crucial for improving cure rates and reducing long-term sequelae.

Keywords: medulloblastoma, children, prognosis, radiotherapy, chemotherapy

Published: October 1, 2010  Show citation