Medulloblastoma in young adults. Must we give adjuvant chemotherapy?

Clin Transl Oncol. 2007 Feb;9(2):121-3. doi: 10.1007/s12094-007-0024-5.

Abstract

Medulloblastoma is a rare entity in adult patients. All data about treatment are from children, where this disease is the most common cerebral tumour. Reports of medulloblastoma in adults are scarce but in all of them the prognosis seems similar to the prognosis of children. We present our experience in five cases of medulloblastoma in young adults, treated at the University Hospital "Germans Trias i Pujol" from June 1994 to October 2003. This has not been a good experience as more than 50% of the patients had a recurrence in spite of the standard treatment. We have reviewed the literature, concluding that we have to adapt the findings in children to our adult patients, offering them adjuvant chemotherapy after surgery.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Cerebellar Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Cerebellar Neoplasms / surgery
  • Chemotherapy, Adjuvant
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Medulloblastoma / drug therapy*
  • Medulloblastoma / surgery