[A clinical and pathological study of cerebellar medulloblastoma in adult patients]

In order to study the clinicopathological characteristics, histogenesis and prognosis of medulloblastoma in the adult patients.

Altogether 27 patients of medulloblastoma admitted form 1974-1995 were reviewed.

In all of the cases, age ranged from 16 to 55, (average 25.8 years) with 21 tumors localized in the cerebellar vermis, and 6 tumors in the cerebellum. Among them, 12 cases were completely while 14 cases were subtotally removed and biopsy was done in only one case. In the 21 patients to be followed up, 7 survived for 2.5-17 years after the operation, and 14 died. The average survival period was 41.6 months. One year survival rate was 71.4%, five years and ten years survival rates were 14.3% respectively. Regarding to the histological types, 14 cases were considered to be classic and 13 cases were desmoplastic by histological classification.

Medulloblastoma keeps still the ability of differentiation to neurons and astrocytes confirmed by electronmicroscopy and immunohistochemical staining for Syn, NSE and GFAP. Factors considered responsible to the prognosis included age, tumor location, various therapeutic measurements and the histological classification.