Influence of a Child's Sex on Medulloblastoma Outcome

Open Access
Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
MEDULLOBLASTOMA, the most common brain tumor in children, is the only disease where postoperative irradiation of the entire craniospinal axis is considered standard of care. Children with the disease routinely undergo craniotomy followed by high doses of craniospinal radiotherapy and, in many cases, a year of intensive chemotherapy. Sadly, this aggressive approach is extremely morbid and yet has not improved survival over the past 2 decades.1-4 Therapy inevitably has serious adverse effects on the developing central nervous and skeletal systems,5,6 including marked learning disabilities, hormonal and hearing abnormalities, short stature, and induction of secondary tumors.7-9