Childhood Medulloblastoma and Other Central Nervous System Embryonal Tumors

Medulloblastomas and other central nervous system (CNS) embryonal tumors form in embryonic cells that remain in the brain after birth. This type of tumor tends to spread through the cerebrospinal fluid to other parts of the brain and spinal cord. CNS embryonal tumors may be malignant or benign; but in children, most are malignant.

There are two types of CNS embryonal tumors: medulloblastomas, which are the most common type and form in the cerebellum; and nonmedulloblastomas, which are further divided into eight subtypes, and may form anywhere in the brain, including the cerebrum, brain stem, or spinal cord.

While CNS atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumors are also considered to be a type of CNS embryonal tumor, they are treated differently from other CNS embryonal tumors. Meanwhile, pineoblastoma, which forms in the cells of the pineal gland in the center of the brain, is treated similarly to these tumors even though it is not considered to be a CNS embryonal tumor.

Although cancer is rare in children, brain tumors are the second most common type of childhood cancer, after leukemia. About 20% of CNS tumors in children are embryonal tumors, and of those, 98% are medulloblastomas.

Childhood Medulloblastoma and Other Central Nervous System Embryonal Tumors Treatment (PDQ®)

Source: National Cancer Institute