46-year-old man with a spinal cord mass

Area of Science:

• Neuro-oncology
• Adult CNS Tumors
• Rare Cancer Recurrence

Background:

• Medulloblastoma is rare in adults, comprising only 1% of central nervous system (CNS) tumors.
• Late recurrence, over 20 years post-diagnosis, is exceptionally uncommon in adult medulloblastoma.

Observation:

• A 24-year-old diagnosed with medulloblastoma underwent resection and craniospinal radiation.
• At age 45, a spinal lesion presumed to be recurrent medulloblastoma (drop metastasis) was found and treated with radiation.
• A subsequent lesion at age 46 was confirmed histopathologically as medulloblastoma, representing late drop metastasis.

Findings:

• The case demonstrates a rare instance of adult medulloblastoma recurrence 22 years after initial diagnosis.
• Histopathology confirmed the recurrent lesions as medulloblastoma, specifically late drop metastases.

Implications:

• Adult medulloblastoma recurrence, even after decades, should be considered in the differential diagnosis of CNS lesions.
• This case underscores the need for long-term surveillance and vigilance in adult medulloblastoma survivors presenting with new neurological symptoms or lesions.