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Oligodendroglioma of the posterior fossa in childhood
Insights
Malignant oligodendrogliomas in the posterior fossa of children are rare. Current treatment with local radiation therapy often leads to recurrence; craniospinal radiation may improve outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric neuro-oncology
- Radiation oncology
- Neurosurgery
Background:
- Oligodendrogliomas are rare pediatric intracranial tumors, particularly in the posterior fossa.
- Standard treatment involves local radiation therapy.
Abstract:
Oligodendrogliomas are uncommon intracranial tumors of childhood, especially when these tumors arise in the posterior fossa. Oligodendrogliomas are usually treated with local radiation therapy. The authors report four children, median age 7.5 years, cared for over a 7-year period, who had oligodendrogliomas (all histologically malignant) of the cerebellar region. Three patients received local radiation therapy and all had recurrent disease at a median of 11 months posttreatment outside their radiation field; at the time of relapse, disease at the primary tumor site was stable. One child treated with craniospinal and local radiation therapy is disease-free 15 months after diagnosis. These results suggest that oligodendrogliomas of the posterior fossa should be considered potentially malignant lesions and treated with local plus presymptomatic craniospinal radiation therapy.