The incidence of late endocrine dysfunction following irradiation for childhood medulloblastoma

A retrospective analysis of treatment in 20 patients who had received post-operative radiotherapy for medulloblastoma between 1969 and 1977 was completed. The patients were followed for a minimum of 60 months. Eleven patients survived for 5 or more years after treatment. The patients received 3600 cGy to the whole brain. The posterior fossa received 5600 cGY and the spinal axis 3600 cGY. Eight of eleven patients developed growth impairment; 6 of 7 patients had growth hormone deficiency. Since all endocrine gland failures are amenable to therapy, early attention to patients' growth rate and detection of hypothalamic-pituitary failure, would be of benefit to longterm survivors.