Rehabilitation Treatment of Medulloblastoma in a Patient with Pervasive Developmental Disorder（Autism Spectrum Disorder）

Hideaki Akimoto; Yoshimi Nakagawa; Shiyou Saitou; Kento Nishi; Shu Watanabe; Masahiro Abo

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Rehabilitation Treatment of Medulloblastoma in a Patient with Pervasive Developmental Disorder（Autism Spectrum Disorder）

VernacularTitle:広汎性発達障害（自閉スペクトラム症）のある髄芽腫症例に対するリハビリテーション治療
Author: Hideaki AKIMOTO ¹ ; Yoshimi NAKAGAWA ² ; Shiyou SAITOU ¹ ; Kento NISHI ¹ ; Shu WATANABE ¹ ; Masahiro ABO ²
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1. Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Musashino Red Cross Hospital
2. Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, The Jikei University School of Medicine
Keywords: pervasive developmental disorder; medulloblastoma; multiple disability; rehabilitation treatment; return to school
From:The Japanese Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine 2022;59(3):337-342
CountryJapan
Language:Japanese
Abstract: We provided inpatient rehabilitation treatment and return-to-school guidance to a junior high school student with medulloblastoma and pervasive developmental disorder (autism spectrum disorder). Here we describe the rehabilitation treatment for patients with physical and developmental disabilities. A 13-year-old boy who was diagnosed with pervasive developmental disorder at 4 years of age was able to perform activities of daily living independently and attend junior high school. However, he was admitted to our hospital with new-onset ataxia. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a cerebellar tumor. After total tumor excision was performed, pathological analysis revealed medulloblastoma, which was treated initially with radiation therapy and then chemotherapy for 1 year. Rehabilitation was initiated 2 days post-surgery. We evaluated his communication abilities. He showed stereotypical behavior owing to the autism spectrum disorder；therefore, we performed low-intensity repetitive exercises. The functional independence measure score at discharge was 67/126 (motor 44/91, cognitive 23/35). We taught his teachers how to properly assist him, and he successfully returned to school post-discharge. Although this was a case in which the child had multiple disabilities, ataxia caused by the medulloblastoma aggravated his developmental disability. Thus, understanding the characteristics of communication and its strengths was vital in determining a treatment plan that enabled his return to school.