Medulloblastoma is a cancerous growth that begins in the part of the brain known as posterior fossa located at the back and is responsible for the control of balance, posture and various motor functions. This type of cancer has the potential to spread to other parts of the brain and the spinal cord. This commonly affects the children although the adults also develop it. Medulloblastoma is the common of the embryonal tumors that develop from the immature cells at the initial stages of development. Medulloblastoma is a rare accounting for less than 2% of all brain tumors. It is estimated that around 400 new cases of children and adults are detected with this type of cancer annually in the United States.
Causes
Medulloblastoma develops as the result of errors in the cells that is responsible for the control of growth and their death. The exact cause of this error is not yet known. Genetic and chromosomal changes have been identified to play a role in the development of medulloblastoma. Although the inherited form of medulloblastoma is considered to be very rare, few cases have been associated with the inherited health conditions that can increase the risk of developing this cancer. For instance, a small percentage of individuals with the Gorlin’s syndrome can develop medulloblastoma and those with Turcot and Li-Fraumeni syndromes can also develop the multiple colon polyps and brain cancer.
Symptoms
The symptoms can present as the early flu-like signs such as irritability, loss of appetite and lethargy which can often go undetected. Among the infants, the initial symptoms include the increased head size and irritability. Additional symptoms can include weight loss, failure to thrive, enlarging head with or without a bulging of the soft spot and the inability to raise the eyes upward. The symptoms among the older children can include headaches and vomiting. As the pressure in the brain continues to increase, the symptoms can become worse. Additional symptoms are based on the brain structures affected by the tumors which can include a problem with coordination, balance and the movement. The children can also experience double vision, involuntary jerky movements of the eyes (nystagmus) or the inward turning of a single eye.
Diagnosis
The initial diagnosis will include the neurological examination and the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to detect the tumor in the brain. If a medulloblastoma is detected, an MRI of the spine and a lumbar puncture will also be required to determine if cancer has spread to the spinal cord. A biopsy of the tissue sample can confirm the diagnosis by examining the tissue under the microscope to understand the tumor type and cell patterns.
Treatment
Surgery is the initial treatment options for medulloblastoma. If the tumor can be surgically completely removed, the affected individual is treated with the low dose radiation of the brain and the spinal cord before receiving chemotherapy. The radiation therapy uses high-energy x-rays to destroy or stop the cancer cells from growing. The chemotherapy uses medicines to kill cancer cells or to stop them from proliferating.
References
https://www.stjude.org/disease/medulloblastoma.html
http://www.cancer.net/cancer-types/medulloblastoma-childhood/view-all
http://www.abta.org/secure/medulloblastoma-brochure.pdf