92. Medulloblastoma in material of Greatpoland Cancer Ceter between 1990 and 1997

Abstract

Introduction

Medulloblastoma represents 4% of all primary brain tumours.

Material and method

Between 1990-97 7 adults with medulloblastoma were irradiated (4 males, 3 females). It represented 1.7% of all primary brain tumours (we had 400 cases of them during this time). Patients were aged between 18–35 years (median 27.4 years). 5 patients had radical surgical tumour removal. 4 patients had tumour in cerebellar hemispheres and 3 in cerebellar vermis. 1 patient was irradiated with Co 60 beams (the whole neuraxis); the others had irradiation of the whole brain and boost in posterior fossa with X6 MV up to 56 Gy and spinal cord with 18–24 MeV electrons. In the same time 11 children with medulloblastoma (8 boys, 3 girls) were irradiated. During this time we had 101 children with all primary brain tumours aged between 2–16 years (median 8.5 years). Two of them were older then 14 years.

Results

The longest survival (113 months) had patient aged 18 years after nonradical surgery, irradiation with Co-60 and chemotherapy. 2 patients survived 58 months 3 patients 44 months, 1 patient 28 months. Among children 3 boys survived 79, 54 and 26 months respectively. Other children died 2–24 months after treatment.

Conclusions

· Medulloblastoma is rare brain tumour. · Radiotherapy improved survivals fundamentally. · Analysis of the survivals shows that follow-up should be continued at least 10 years after treatment. · Young age is poor prognostic factor – children died during first two years after treatment.