Adult Medulloblastoma: Clinical Profile and Treatment Result of 13 Patients

Objective: To investigate the clinical-radiological presentation, treatment response and prognostic factors of adult medulloblastoma patients.Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 13 adult medulloblastoma patients who had been treated and followed in our hospital between January 2000 and December 2008. The extent of resection was determined from surgery reports and postoperative MRI. All pathology slides were re-reviewed by two neuropathologists.Results: The mean age was 35.2 years (range 22 – 50 years). The tumors were median localization in 5 patients, paramedian hemispheric in 5 and lateral hemispheric in 3. Lesions were predominantly nonhomogeneously enhancing mass on T1-weighted images. Total excision could be achieved in 9 (69.2%) cases. There were 2 (15%) surgical mortality. Histopathological examination showed desmoplastic variant in 11 cases (85%). Nine patients received postoperative radioterapy. Mean follow up was 28.5 months, 2 patients had relapse (6 and 8 months). Remaining 9 patients were alive and disease free at their last controls.Conclusion: Developing a medulloblastoma is a risk, not only for children and adolescents but also for adults. Magnetic resonance imaging findings of adult patients with medulloblastoma can mimic other posterior fossa tumors. Radiotherapy seems to be effective for prevention of early recurrences even in patients with subtotal removed tumors.