[Medulloblastoma in adults. Val-de-Grace hospital experience (1975-1994) and literature review]

Abstract

Purpose: Retrospective analysis of prognostic factors in a series of 14 adult patients presenting with medulloblastoma treated by surgery and subsequent radiotherapy.

Patients and methods: Thirteen male and one female patients (mean age, 27 years; range 20-40) presenting with medulloblastoma were treated at the Val-de-Grâce hospital from 1975 to 1994. The mean delay between the initial symptoms and the diagnosis was 17 weeks (range, 2-76). The tumor was median in three cases, lateral in seven, and median and lateral in four. Eleven medulloblastomas belonged to the classical subtype and three others to the desmoplastic type. Patients were treated by surgery followed by external radiation therapy. The ablation was complete in four cases and incomplete in ten cases.

Results and conclusion: Five- and ten-year overall survival rates were 63 and 25%, respectively. There was a trend toward a higher probability of survival for older patients (ie, for patients above 26 years of age) presenting with a desmoplastic central tumor treated by complete surgery and subsequent post-operative radiotherapy. Results are discussed in regard to the literature.