About Medulloblastomas
When you or a family member is facing a medulloblastoma diagnosis, knowledge is a key part of navigating your next steps. Medulloblastomas are a fast-growing type of cancer that forms in the cerebellum (the lower, back part of the brain). Medulloblastoma tumors are a type of central nervous system embryonal tumor and are most common in children and young adults.
Medulloblastomas tend to spread through the cerebrospinal fluid to the spinal cord or to other parts of the brain. They may also spread to other body parts, but this is rare. Read more about the symptoms and risk factors below to continue learning about medulloblastomas.
Symptoms and Risk Factors of Medulloblastomas
The most common symptoms of medulloblastomas include behavioral changes, changes in appetite and symptoms of increased pressure on the brain (e.g., headache, nausea, vomiting, drowsiness and problems with coordination). Unusual eye movements may also occur.
Medulloblastomas are the most common malignant brain tumor in children and a rare brain tumor in adults. Although the cause of medulloblastomas is not known, certain factors may increase the risk, including:
- Age: most medulloblastoma cases are diagnosed before age 16, and usually between the ages of 3 and 8; in adults, it is rarely seen after the age of 40
- Gender: medulloblastomas are more common in boys than girls; in adults, it is also more common in men than in women
- Genetic conditions: people with cancer predisposition syndromes like Li-Fraumeni syndrome, Turcot syndrome and Nevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome (Gorlin syndrome) are more likely to develop medulloblastomas
In rare cases, medulloblastomas can be passed down from one generation to the next.
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