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Review
. 2023 Jan;11(1):22-27.
doi: 10.14791/btrt.2022.0033.

Role of Radiotherapy in Patients With Relapsed Medulloblastoma

Do Hoon Lim  1
Affiliations
Review

Role of Radiotherapy in Patients With Relapsed Medulloblastoma

Do Hoon Lim. Brain Tumor Res Treat. 2023 Jan.

Abstract

During the last three decades, the management of medulloblastoma (MBL) has made enormous progress with a multidisciplinary approach, incorporating surgery, radiotherapy (RT), and chemotherapy. Despite this improvement, 20%-30% of patients with MBL remain at risk of disease recurrence, with its relapse being possibly fatal. To date, the salvage treatment for relapse remains challenging, and various approaches have been suggested for the retreatment. In this review, I have described the characteristics of patients with relapsed MBL, patterns of relapse and the most commonly prescribed treatment. Further, I have reviewed the studies on re-irradiation and its associated issues to conclusively suggest the RT recommendations for patients with relapsed MBL.

Keywords: Medulloblastoma; Pediatric; Radiotherapy; Re-irradiation; Relapse.

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Conflict of interest statement

The author has no potential conflicts of interest to disclose.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1. The recommendation algorithm for radiotherapy in patients with relapsed medulloblastoma. MBL, medulloblastoma; CSI, craniospinal irradiation; RT, radiotherapy.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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