Extraneural metastases from cerebellar medulloblastoma

Six of 19 patients treated for medulloblastoma over an 8-year period developed extraneural metastases. The most common sites of metastatic disease were bone (5 patients), and bone marrow (4 patients). Radionucleotide bone scans and/or bone marrow aspirates detected disease in all such cases. Four patients also had recurrence within the central nervous system. Four of six patients relapsed within one year of initial treatment. All recurrences were treated with radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy with symptomatic improvement. The use of bone scans and bone marrow aspirations in the follow-up of patients with treated medulloblastoma would seem to be indicated.