[Medulloblastoma in children. Prognostic incidence of vascular hyperplasia, coagulation necrosis and postoperative clinical state on survival]

Abstract

Fifty consecutive children with cerebellar medulloblastoma were operated on May, 1971 to December, 1988. At 5 and 10-years, actuarial survival rates were respectively 46% & 42%. To determine prognostic factors, various clinical and histological features were analysed: multivariate analysis showed that increased vascularity, coagulative necrosis, and postoperative clinical status have a significant influence survival. When necrosis and/or increased vascularity were present (H+), the 5-year survival rate was 17%, whereas it was 70% when absent (H-) (p less than 0.0001). Postoperative clinical status was described as poor when neurological symptoms such as vigilance or vegetative disorders, akinesia, hypotonia, apragmatism, mutism and emaciation were associated; the 5-year survival rate was 10% in the presence of such deficits (C+) and 55% in their absence (C-) (p = 0.0002). From these results, 2 distinct groups were identified: Group 1: 23 patients without pejorative factors (H- and C-); 5 and 10-year survival rates were 80%. Group 2: 27 patients with one or two pejorative factors (H+ and/or C+); 5 and 10-year survival rates were respectively 18% and 12% (p. less than 0.0001). From our experience, it appears that histology and postoperative clinical status can be early predictors of patient outcome, since neurosurgical and radiation therapy techniques have been largely optimized. These factors could be the basis for developing adapted treatment protocols.