Multifocal presentation of medulloblastoma in adulthood

J Neurooncol. 2012 Apr;107(2):233-7. doi: 10.1007/s11060-011-0746-7. Epub 2011 Nov 10.

Abstract

Medulloblastoma in adulthood is uncommon but not rare; annual incidence is 2-20/1,000,000. Some peculiarities characterize medulloblastoma in adult patients compared with the child type: lateral cerebellar location, heterogeneous signal intensity on magnetic resonance imaging, desmoplastic histological variant, and more favourable prognosis. Preoperative diagnosis is crucial for correct management of these patients. However, because of the low incidence of medulloblastoma in the adult population, preoperative diagnosis remains challenging and prognostic factors and best treatment options are still controversial. In this setting, some unusual findings, for example multifocal presentation and extra-axial location, can confound diagnosis and make treatment difficult. We present a short case-illustrated review on these remarkable issues.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Cerebellar Neoplasms* / diagnosis
  • Cerebellar Neoplasms* / physiopathology
  • Cerebellar Neoplasms* / surgery
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
  • Male
  • Medulloblastoma* / diagnosis
  • Medulloblastoma* / physiopathology
  • Medulloblastoma* / surgery