Medulloblastoma With Extensive Nodularity: Tailored Therapy in a Low-resource Setting

Paula Aristizabal1, Luke Burns, Rebeca Rivera-Gomez

  • 1*Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology ‡Reducing Cancer Disparities Program #Moores Cancer Center §School of Medicine ¶Department of Neurosurgery, Division of Pediatric Neurosurgery **Department of Neurosciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla †Peckham Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders, Rady Children's Hospital San Diego, San Diego, CA ∥Hospital General de Tijuana, Universidad Autonoma de Baja California, Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico.

Treatment for medulloblastoma carries significant risks, particularly in resource-constrained settings. We report a case of a Mexican infant with desmoplastic/nodular medulloblastoma. Given the nature of her tumor, we developed a tailored regimen following subtotal resection to avoid both radiation therapy and the high-dose cisplatin therapy offered at most centers in the United States. The patient is in remission 4 years after the initial diagnosis. This case suggests an alternative treatment plan for this particular tumor variant that accommodates the limited resources of many centers around the world and avoids the risks associated with radiation therapy at a young age.