Medulloblastoma in childhood: Impact of radiation technique upon the outcome of treatment

Background Medulloblastoma is an infratentorial primitive neuroectodermal tumour, diagnosed in paediatric population. The radiotherapy is an essential method of treatment for these tumours. The impact of technical quality of radiation therapy on survival was recently considered. In this study treatm...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Pediatric Blood & Cancer 2004-02, Vol.42 (2), p.155-160
Main Authors: Chojnacka, Marzanna, Skowrońska-Gardas, Anna
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Biological and medical sciences
brain tumors in children
Cerebellar Neoplasms - diagnosis
Cerebellar Neoplasms - radiotherapy
Child
Child, Preschool
Cranial Irradiation
cribriform plate
Female
General aspects
Humans
Infant
Male
Medical sciences
medulloblastoma
Medulloblastoma - diagnosis
Medulloblastoma - radiotherapy
Neoplasm Recurrence, Local - pathology
Neoplasm Staging
Neuropsychological Tests
patterns of failure
Poland
Prognosis
radiotherapy in neuro-oncology
Radiotherapy Planning, Computer-Assisted
Retrospective Studies
Sex Distribution
Spinal Cord Neoplasms - diagnosis
Spinal Cord Neoplasms - radiotherapy
Supratentorial Neoplasms - pathology
Survival Rate
Treatment Outcome
Tumors
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Summary:Background Medulloblastoma is an infratentorial primitive neuroectodermal tumour, diagnosed in paediatric population. The radiotherapy is an essential method of treatment for these tumours. The impact of technical quality of radiation therapy on survival was recently considered. In this study treatment‐related variables are analysed with a special focus on radiotherapy technical factors. Procedure The population of 158 children with a diagnosis of medulloblastoma had been undergoing postoperative radiotherapy at MCMCC in Warsaw in the period 1983–1997. The medical data of these patients were analysed. Simulation films of the whole‐brain irradiation fields were retrospectively reviewed at 112 patients. The distance from the field margin to the cribriform plate and to the floor of the temporal fossa was assessed and correlated with supratentorial relapse. Results Five‐year overall survival (OS) and 5‐year disease free survival (DFS) were 46% and 40%, respectively. In multivariate analysis gender (P = 0.008), neurological status before radiotherapy (P = 0.029), M‐stage (P 
ISSN:1545-5009
1545-5017
1096-911X
DOI:10.1002/pbc.10401