Medulloblastoma
Medulloblastoma is a cancerous tumor—also called cerebellar primitive neuroectodermal tumor (PNET)—that starts in the region of the brain at the base of the skull, called the posterior fossa.
- These tumors tend to spread to other parts of the brain and to the spinal cord.
How common is medulloblastoma?
- Medulloblastoma is the most common malignant brain tumor of childhood, and it accounts for about 20 percent of all childhood brain tumors.
- Between 250 and 500 children are found to have medulloblastoma each year in the United States.
- Most medulloblastoma tumors are found in children younger than age 16, but they can rarely occur in adults.
- Medulloblastoma is slightly more common in boys than in girls.
What are the symptoms of medulloblastoma?
If your child has medulloblastoma, the following symptoms may occur:
- Headaches
- Morning nausea or vomiting that gradually gets worse
- Clumsiness
- Problems with handwriting
- Visual problems (rare) at the time of diagnosis
