Treatment of cerebellar medulloblastoma has been much improved with modern surgical technique for gross total tumor removal and adequate radiation therapy for the whole craniospinal axis. Questions have been arosen about the optimal radiation dose for the preventive treatment of whole cranium and whole spinal axis. Recently, many authors have reported their treatment results as comparable to older data, using lower than conventional dose of 3,600cGy-4,000cGy. For 50 patients treated between 1981 and 1950 at the Department of Radiation Therapy of SNUH, retrospective analysis was done for the treatment result, especially the neuraxis control, by radiation dose for the presymptomatic area of the disease. Analysis only by total spinal dose did not give any significant difference. But further analysis by following patient group: 3,600cGy/150cGy (n=S), 3,000cGy/150cGy (n=10), 2,400 cGy/150cGy (n=17) and 2,400cGy/100-120cGy (n=11) showed significant improvement of neuraxis control by decreasing order (p=0.003). There was no significant difference in overall survival between the groups. For the 19 patients who had been confirmed initially as having no neuraxis disease, TDF 30 was the cur-off value that could prevent neuraxis failure (p=0.004). We couldn't define any TDF value that give reasonable control for the patient group with positive CSF study at initial diagnosis.
Axis, Cervical Vertebra ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Medulloblastoma* ; Retrospective Studies ; Skull

BACKGROUND: 'Eight drugs in a day' was one of the widely used regimen in medulloblastoma. Result of treatment of this regimen and comparison between pre-RT chemotherapy and post-RT chemotherapy were presented. METHODS: Medical records of children who were diagnosed as medulloblastoma and treated with 8 in 1 therapy in Seoul National University Children's Hospital from January 1986 to June 1997 were reviewed. RESULTS: 1) Forty nine cases(male: 30, female: 19) were analyzed. The age at diagnosis was between 3 months and 15 years 3 months and median age was 7 years 10 months. 2) The T stage by Chang classification revealed T1(2%), T2(26%), T3a(9%), T3b(56%), and T4(7%) in 43 cases. M stage revealed M0(46%), M1(15%), M3(37%), and M4(2%) in 41 cases. The surgical results revealed gross total resection(36%), near total resection(18%), subtotal resection(38%), and partial resection(9%). 3) The 5-yr disease free survival(DFS) rate of all tumors was 53%. There was no difference in DFS about sex, age, pathology, T stage, M stage, and surgical result. 4) Difference of 5-year DFS between pre-RT chemotherapy group(53%) and post-RT chemotherapy group(83%) was significant[-2Log(LR), P=0.023], excluding the patient relapsed or too young(below 18 month, who had more chemotherapy to delay radiation) to be received radiation therapy. CONCLUSIONS: DFS in post-RT chemotherapy was better than pre-RT chemotherapy. As medulloblastoma has the property to confine in CNS system, prior treatment with radiation as a intensive local therapy may be more effective than the systemic chemotherapy. Progression or relapse were the main causes of treatment failure. Result of treatment may be improved by more intensive therapy.
Child ; Classification ; Diagnosis ; Drug Therapy* ; Female ; Humans ; Medical Records ; Medulloblastoma* ; Pathology ; Recurrence ; Seoul ; Treatment Failure

PURPOSE: To find characteristic MRI features of vermian medulloblastoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: MRI studiesand medical records were retrospectively reviewed for 12 patients with surgically proven midline medulloblastoma. The assessment concerned appearance of the mass in relation to surrounding structures ; MR signal intensity ; the enhancement pattern ; the mass's location and size ; presence of a cystic/necrotic area, calcification, or vascular void ; extension through the foramen Luschka ; degree of hydrocephalus ; and presence of tonsillarherniation. RESULTS: The midline medulloblastoma commonly showed roundish moon-surface appearance, especially onthe axial T2-weighted images. All tumors showed heterogeneous signal intensities mainly due to intratumoralcystic/necrotic or hemorrhagic changes. The tumors were commonly located at mid- and/or inferior vermis. Occasionally the tumors extended through the foramen Luschka, and caused obstructive hydrocephalus of moderate tosevere degree. Post-con-trast study showed heterogeneous, dense contrast enhancement in the majority of patients. CONCLUSION: The MR finding of the moon-surface appearance formed by both the mass and the intratumoralcystic/necrotic change as seen on axial T2-weighted images could be helpful in the diagnosis of vermianmedulloblastoma.
Diagnosis ; Humans ; Hydrocephalus ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Medical Records ; Medulloblastoma* ; Retrospective Studies

Abdominal pseudocysts have been recorded infrequently as a complication of intraperitoneal shunting. Authors have experienced two cases of subphrenic pseudocyst as a complication of ventriculoperitoneal shunt, which were treated with revision of shunt. First patient had medulloblastoma with hydrocephalus. The other one was a patient who had subarachnoid hemorrhage and hydrocephalus from Struge Weber syndrome. It's diagnosis and treatment were discussed with review of literatures.
Brain Stem Infarctions ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Hydrocephalus ; Medulloblastoma ; Sturge-Weber Syndrome ; Subarachnoid Hemorrhage ; Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt*

PURPOSE: The purposes of this study were to analyze the MR findings of medulloblastoma, and to evaluate the subarachnoid dissemination and the significance of contrast enhanced MR of brain and spine for tumor.. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The preoperative brain MR studies of 18 patients (9 males, 9 females;mean age, 9.4 years) with surgically proved medulloblastomas were retrospectively reviewed to characterize these neoplasms with regard to their location, size, MR signal intensity, appearance after contrast enhancement, presence of cyst and necrosis, subarachnoid dissemination, and other associated findings. In 14 patients postoperative spine MR studies were evaluated for staging and therapeutic planning. RESULTS: The most frequent location of medulloblastoma was the inferior vermis and the mean tumor size was 4.1 x 3.6 x 3.9 cm. On Tl-weighted image, medulloblastomas generally had low to intermediate signal, predominantly hypointense relative to white matter. On T2-weighted image, medulloblastomas showed modetately high signal, hyperintense relative to white matter. Inhomogeneous contrast enhancement was demonstrated in 13 patients(72.2%) after injection of gadopentetate dimeglumine(Gadolinium). Cyst and necrosis within the tumor were visualized in 15 patients(83.3%). Subarachnoid disseminations of medulloblastomas were noted in 11 patients(61.1%), of which 6 demonstrated intracranial and 2 intraspinal dissemination. Three had both intracranial and intraspinal dissemination. In nine cases with intracranial lesions, there were intraparenchymal mass formation(7), subarachnoid nodules(5), infundibular lesions(2) and diffuse gyral enhancement(I). In five cases with intraspinal lesions, there were extramedullary intradural small nodules(3), central canal nodules(2), intradural masses(I)and fine nodular and sheet-like leptomeningeal enhancement(1). Other associated findings included intratumoral hemorrhage(11.1%), per/tumoral edema(44.4%), tonsillar herniation(44.4%), hydrocephalus(88.9%) and calcification(44.4%). CONCLUSION: Medulloblastomas revealed low to intermediate signal intensity on Tl-weighted image and intermediate to moderately high signal intensity on T2-weighted image, relative to cerebellar white matter. Medulloblastomas were solid tumors with cystic necrosis, which showed inhomogeneous enhancement and subarachnoid disseminations to the intracranial and intraspinal spaces after Gd-DTPA enhancement. Gd-enhanced MR of brain and spine was an useful diagnostic modality in preoperative diagnosis and in staging of postoperative cases of medulloblastomas, which was superior to postcontrast CT or precontrast MR.
Brain* ; Diagnosis ; Gadolinium DTPA ; Humans ; Male ; Medulloblastoma ; Necrosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Spine*

Medulloblastoma is a common pediatric tumor typically diagnosed before the age of fifteen. Initial therapy includes surgical resection and radiation of the entire neuro-axis. Recurrence is common and typically occurs within 2 years of initial diagnosis. Those fitting Collin's Law is considered tumor-free. We report a case of single supratentorial recurrence 13 years after initial diagnosis. Here we present a 22 year old male presenting 13 years after initial diagnosis with isolated septum pellucidum recurrence. He underwent complete resection of the tumor. Medulloblastoma is a common in the pediatric population. Late recurrence to the ventricular system is uncommon. Long term follow-up is recommended in these patients.
Diagnosis ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Jurisprudence ; Male ; Medulloblastoma* ; Neuroectodermal Tumors, Primitive ; Recurrence* ; Septum Pellucidum

PURPOSE: The purpose of our study is to evaluate characteristic features of 4th ventricular tumors in CT and MRI. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Pathologically proved 9 patients with 4th ventricular tumor were examined by CT and/or MRI. 4th ventricular tumors were epedymoma(4 cases), medulloblastoma(2 cases), choroid plexus papilIoma(2 cases), and oligodendroglioma(1 case). Included in our study were only those mass lesions that were located at surgery predominently within 4th ventricle with or without ventricular expansion. RESULTS: The origin of 4th ventricular tumor was the roof (epedymoma 3 cases, medulloblastoma 2 cases), the floor (epedymoma 1 case), and the undetermined(remaining 3 cases). On MRI, all tumors were hypointense exept ependymoma(3 cases) showing isointensity on T1WI. All tumors were hyperintense on PDWI and T2WI. On Gd-DTPA enhanced T1WI, strong enhancement was seen in all but epedymoma(1 case) which showed mild enhancement. On CT, as compared with MR images, various density on precontrast and postcontrast images were seen. Calcification was seen in choroid plexus papilloma(1 case) and oligodendroglioma(1 case). Hydrocephalus is seen in all cases exept ependymoma(2 cases) and oligodendroglioma(1 case). Hemorrhage within tumor was present only in epedymoma(2 cases). Cystic change or necrosis of tumor was seen in ependymomma(3 cases), choroid plexus papilloma(1 case), and oligodendroglioma(1 case). Peritumoral edema was seen in medulloblastoma(1 case). Extension through the foramen Luschka and the Magendie was seen in ependymoma(2 cases), choroid plexus papilloma(2 cases), and medulloblastoma(1 case). Seeding along the CSF pathway was seen only in ependymoma(2 cases). CONCLUSION: The results of our study may suggest that specific diagnosis of 4th ventricular tumor can be suggested preoperatively by analysing the origin in 4th ventricle, difference of CT density or MRI signal inten. sity, presence of extension or seeding through cerebrospinal fluid of the lesion.
Cerebrospinal Fluid ; Choroid Plexus ; Diagnosis ; Edema ; Gadolinium DTPA ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Hydrocephalus ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Medulloblastoma ; Necrosis

Extra-axial medulloblastoma is a rare phenomenon. We report a case in a 5-year-old boy who presented with nausea, vomiting, and gait disturbance. He was treated with total removal of the tumor. This is the first case of an extra-axially located medulloblastoma occurring in the cerebellar hemisphere posteriolateral to the cerebellopontine angle in Korea. Although the extra-axial occurrence of medulloblastoma is rare, it should be considered in the differential diagnosis of extra-axial lesions of the posterior fossa in children.
Cerebellopontine Angle ; Cerebellum ; Cerebrum ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Gait ; Humans ; Korea ; Male ; Medulloblastoma* ; Nausea ; Vomiting

Cytologic evaluation of cerebrospinal fluid(CSF) is an effective tool in diagnosing many disorders involving the central nervous system(CNS). CSF examination has been found to be of particular value in the diagnosis of metastatic carcinoma, lymphomatous or leukemic involvement of CNS and certain primary CNS tumors. As a survey of metastatic tumors to CSF and an evaluation of the preparation techniques increasing cellular yield in our laboratory, 713 CSF specimens examined between July 1995 and April 1997(1 year 10 months), were reviewed. There were 75 positive and 5 suspicious cases, the latter have had no evidence of tumors clinically. Primary tumors of 75 positive cases were classified as follows; 4(5.3%) as primary brain tumors, 40(53.3%) as secondary carcinomas, 13(17.3%) as leukemias, and 18 (24.0%) as lymphomas. The most common primary site of metastatic carcinomas was the lung in 17 cases(42.5%) followed by the stomach in 13(32.5%), breast in 8 (20.0%), and unknown primary in 2(5.0%). Four primary brain tumors were 3 cerebellar medulloblastomas and a supratentorial primitive neuroectodermal tumor (PNET). All 40 metastatic carcinomas were adenocarcinoma presented as single cells or cell clusters. Although signet ring cells were frequent in the cases of gastric primary cancers, no significant cytologic differences according to the primary site were observed. The cytologic features of leukemia and lymphoma were characterized by hypercellular smears presenting as individual atypical cells with increased N/C ratio, presence of nucleoli, and nuclear protrusions. In medulloblastomas and PNET, the principal cytologic findings were small undifferentiated cells arranged singly or in loose clusters with occasional rosettoid features. This study suggests that the CSF cytology is useful in the diagnosis of malignancy, especially metastatic extracranial tumors and the diagnostic accuracy can be improved by increasing cellular yield using cytocentrifuge.
Adenocarcinoma ; Brain Neoplasms ; Breast ; Cerebrospinal Fluid* ; Diagnosis ; Leukemia ; Lung ; Lymphoma ; Medulloblastoma ; Neuroectodermal Tumors, Primitive ; Stomach

PURPOSE: The solid variety of cerebella r tumors in adult is relatively uncommon. This study is to describe the characteristic MR findings of various solid cerebellar tumors in adult. METHODS: Twenty three cerebellar solid tumors from 22 consecutive patients over age of 15 with surgical confirmations were retrospectively evaluated with MR imaging. H istologic diagnosis included hemangioblastoma (n=6), metastasis (n=6), high-grade astrocytoma (n=3), and medulloblastoma (n=8). The MR findings were reviewed with attention to the size, the signal intensity of the tumors, pattern of enhancement, tumoral margin, degree of peritumoral edema, signal void vascular structures within and/or around the tumor, and location in relation to attachment to the pial surface of the tumor. RESULTS: Solid hemangioblastomas consistently showed slightly low or iso signal intensity on T1 -weighted images and high intensity on T2-weighted images, dense homogeneous enhancement, and signal void vessels within and/or around the mass. Metastatic tumors showed various find ings with predominantly low or iso signal intensity on T2-weighted images. Medulloblastomas was midline and/or paramidline in location, and had larger mass formation. High-grade astrocytomas revealed nonspecific MR findings with no signal void vessels. CONCLUSION: Hemangioblastoma, metastasis, malignant astrocytoma, and medulloblastoma should be included in differential diagnosis of solid cerebellar tumors in adult. Dense homogeneous enhancement and signal void vessels are characteristic of hemangioblastoma. The signal intensity of the tumor, and presence of signal void vessels, location and enhancement pattern can be some value in differential diagnosis of solid cerebellar tumors in adult.
Adult* ; Astrocytoma ; Cerebellar Neoplasms* ; Diagnosis ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Edema ; Hemangioblastoma ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Medulloblastoma ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Retrospective Studies