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Brain Tumor, Medulloblastoma, Childhood |
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Childhood medulloblastoma is a disease in which benign (noncancer) or malignant (cancer) cells form in the tissues of the brain. Childhood medulloblastoma (tumor) usually forms in the cerebellum, which is at the lower back of the brain. The cerebellum is the part of the brain that controls movement, balance, and posture. Childhood medulloblastoma may also be called primitive neuroectodermal tumor (PNET). About 1 out of 5 childhood brain tumors are medulloblastomas. Although cancer is rare in children, brain tumors are the most common type of childhood cancer other than leukemia and lymphoma. This summary refers to the treatment of primary brain tumors (tumors that begin in the brain). Treatment for metastatic brain tumors, which are tumors formed by cancer cells that begin in other parts of the body and spread to the brain, is not discussed in this summary. Brain tumors can occur in both children and adults; however, treatment for children may be different than treatment for adults. (Refer to the PDQ treatment summary on Adult Brain Tumors for more information.) The cause of most childhood brain tumors is unknown. The signs of childhood medulloblastoma vary and often depend on the child’s age and where the tumor is located. |
