What is   ANAPLASTIC (Large Cell)  MEDULLOBLASTOMA?

Medulloblastoma is the most common of the embryonal tumors formed from poorly developed cells at a very early stage of their life.  These tumors form in the cerebellum, the lower base of the brain, that controls balance, movement and posture.  Brain tumors are the leading cause of cancer among children and 1 out of 5 childhood brain tumors are Medulloblastoma.  Although significant strides have been made in diagnosing and treating these tumors, Medulloblastoma tumors remain one of the most challenging pediatric tumors.  Approximately 70% of these tumors are diagnosed in children under the age of 10.

Treatment for Medulloblastoma depends on the age of the child and the size/position of the tumor.  In most cases, surgery is performed to remove as much of the tumor as possible with minimal neurological damage.  In about 1/3 of patients, the tumor has grown into the brain stem making total removal impossible.  Sometimes a permanent shunt is necessary to drain fluid from the brain to the abdomen.  Surgery is then followed by radiation to the brain and spinal cord to help deter spreading through the CSF (cerebro spinal fluid) and hopefully to deter regrowth.  Chemotherapy is then given to help further deter the spread of cancer cells through the spinal fluid.

Symptoms of a Medulloblastoma brain tumor in a child can be:

• Nausea & Vomiting / Morning Headache or headache that goes away after vomiting
• Loss of balance, difficulty walking, slow speech, worsening handwriting
• Change in personality or behavior
• Unexplained weight loss or weight gain
• Sudden change in energy level or unusual sleepiness

There are several types of Medulloblastoma:

• Classic Medulloblastoma  or Large Cell or Anaplastic Medulloblastoma
• Medulloblastoma with neuroblastic or neuronal differentiation
• Medulloblastoma with glial differentiation
• Medullomyoblastoma  or Melanotic Medulloblastoma

The prognosis for children and how well they respond to treatment for any type of Medulloblastoma is affected by several things; their age at the time of diagnosis, the size and extent of the tumor, the amount of the tumor that is safely removed and the level of metastatic disease.  Today children have a significantly improved chance of survival thanks to advanced research and studies.  For more information and ways you can help, please visit the following websites.

www.abta.org
www.cbtf.org
www.tugmcgraw.org
www.cancer.duke.edu/btc
www.childhoodbraintumor.org
www.medulloblastoma.org
www.stjude.org
www.cancer.org