Medulloblastoma Overview
Medulloblastoma is a malignant type of brain tumor that first originates in the cerebellum, the lower back part of the brain. This area of the brain has various functions and processes, including controlling balance, muscle coordination and movement.
This tumor can sometimes affect adults, but it’s primarily found in children and is the most common pediatric malignant brain tumor. Medulloblastomas are very rare overall, but still represent a very serious condition, and getting familiarized with it is extremely important.
Let’s go over all of the different symptoms, causes and risk factors for medulloblastoma.
We treat medulloblastoma with a holistic approach that considers quality of life and how the whole body is functioning. From the first evaluation of your child’s case through our comprehensive follow-up services, you and your child will benefit from the expertise of compassionate medical professionals. Cancer can have devastating effects on the physical and emotional well-being of your child and his/her entire family, and we offer a variety of support services to address your needs.
Medulloblastoma Symptoms
When a medulloblastoma develops, it can cause some or all of the following symptoms:
- Persistent headaches, especially in the mornings or at night.
- Nausea and vomiting.
- Head bobbing.
- Poor coordination and trouble walking.
- Abnormal side-to-side eye movements.
- Double vision.
- Feeling confused and lethargic.
- A constant feeling of tiredness and dizziness.
Most brain tumors have similar if not identical symptoms, and the bigger the tumor gets, the more serious the symptoms are.
Medulloblastoma Classification
Understanding medulloblastoma is much more complicated than just knowing it’s a brain tumor. There are many different types and subtypes of medulloblastoma, so let’s go through the classification of this tumor.
Medulloblastoma Types
There are four different types of medulloblastoma, and the main thing that sets them apart is their structure. These types are:
- Anaplastic (large cell) medulloblastoma. Anaplastic medulloblastoma is characterized by large, abnormal cells that, when observed under a microscope, have anaplastic features. This means that these cells divide rapidly and are highly disorganized. This type of medulloblastoma has a very poor prognosis and is very aggressive.
- Classic medulloblastoma. This is the most common type of medulloblastoma and it is characterized by densely packed small, round, blue cells. The tumor cells for classic medulloblastoma are typically uniform and similar to primitive neural cells.
- Desmoplastic (nodular) medulloblastoma. Desmoplastic medulloblastoma is a type of medulloblastoma that is typically found in adults and is characterized by nodules or small masses of densely packed cells.
- Medulloblastoma with extensive nodularity (MBEN). MBEN is one of the more favorable types of medulloblastoma and is characterized by well-defined nodules. This is a very rare subtype and is characterized by the presence of extensive nodules within the tumor.
Medulloblastoma Subtypes
As for the different subtypes of medulloblastoma, there are also 4 that you need to be aware of:
- Wingless (WNT) medulloblastoma. This subtype is characterized by mutations in the WNT pathway, which plays a crucial role in regulating the growth, differentiation, and mortality of cells. This subtype has a favorable prognosis and typically affects young children.
- Sonic hedgehog (SHH) medulloblastoma. The SHH subtype of medulloblastoma is the second most common subtype of this tumor and it is characterized by alterations in the Sonic Hedgehog signaling pathway. It can occur in patients of all ages but is more commonly found in adults.
- Group 3 medulloblastoma. This subtype is characterized by a distinct gene expression pattern and a set of genes that easily mutate into tumor cells. Group 3 medulloblastoma is mostly found in young children and usually has a very poor prognosis, meaning it requires more intensive treatment.
- Group 4 medulloblastoma. This is the most common subtype of medulloblastoma and is characterized by very few gene mutations. It’s fast-spreading and patients who get diagnosed with it are often considered to be high-risk.
Understanding the types and subtypes of medulloblastoma is important because all of them have different characteristics and therefore require different approaches when treating them.
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