Posterior fossa medulloblastoma in childhood: Treatment results and a proposal for a new staging system

Derek Jenkin*, Karen Goddard, Derek Armstrong, Laurence Becker, Martin Berry, Helen Chan, Mary Doherty, Mark Greenberg, Bruce Hendrick, Harold Hoffman, Robin Humphreys, Marilyn Sonley, Sheila Weitzman, Al Zipursky

*Corresponding author for this work

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    119 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    Seventy-two children with posterior fossa medulloblastoma were diagnosed at the Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, from 1977 to 1987 and treated by standard methods. The 5- and 10-year survival and disease-free survival rates were 71% and 63%, and 64% and 63%, respectively. Total tumor resection, as determined by the surgeon was the most significant favorable prognostic factor. Post-operative meningitis, a residual enhancing mass lesion on the post-operative, pre irradiation CT scan and dissemination to the brain or cord at diagnosis were unfavorable factors. These four easily definable factors were used to define a staging system with prognostic significance. Five-year disease-free survival rates were for Stage I (total resection, no adverse factor) 100%, Stage II (total resection with one or more adverse factor or less than total resection with no other adverse factor) 78%, and Stage III (less than total resection with one or more adverse factor) 18%. Evaluation of treatment results in medulloblastoma requires that these prognostic factors be known.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)265-274
    Number of pages10
    JournalInternational Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology, Physics
    Volume19
    Issue number2
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 1990

    Keywords

    • Childhood treatment
    • Medulloblastoma
    • Prognostic factors

    Fingerprint

    Dive into the research topics of 'Posterior fossa medulloblastoma in childhood: Treatment results and a proposal for a new staging system'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

    Cite this