OBJECTIVE: To present a case of pediatric cerebellar glioblastoma multiforme

CASE: This is a case of an eight-year-old, right-handed female who presented with progressive occipital headache relieved by vomiting, esotropia, wide-based gait, and generalized tonic-clonic seizure. Pertinent neurologic examination showed intact higher cortical function, papilledema, bilateral lateral rectus palsy, bilateral dysmetria and dysdiadochokinesia, truncal and gait ataxia, hyperreflexia of both lower extremities and bilateral extensor toe signs. Cranial CT-scan showed posterior fossa mass with obstructive hydrocephalus probably medulloblastoma, astrocytoma or ependymoma. Patient underwent tumor debulking and ventriculoperitoneal shunting. Histopathology result showed glioblastoma multiforme. Craniospinal MRI showed evidence of tumoral dissemination via the CSF pathway involving the sellar and suprasellar compartments, meningeal carcinomatosis within the basilar cistern, and drop metastasis within the spinal canal along the dorsal surface of the thoracic spinal cord at the T8 level. Due to the low general condition of the child, she was managed conservatively with anti-edema and anticonvulsant medications but succumbed to death within a few days.

CONCLUSION: Glioblastoma multiforme should be kept in mind in the differential diagnosis of the lesions in the posterior fossa. Anti-edema therapy with anticonvulsants and partial resection of the tumor prolongs survival marginally.