Medulloblastoma

Last revised by Ahmed Elhusseiny on 3 Feb 2024

Medulloblastomas are the second most common malignant brain tumor of childhood, with only high-grade gliomas being more common. They most commonly present as midline masses in the roof of the 4th ventricle with associated mass effect and hydrocephalus. Treatment typically consists of surgical resection, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy, with the prognosis strongly influenced by surgical resection, the presence of CSF metastases at the time of diagnosis, molecular and histological features and expression of the c-erbB-2 (HER2/neu) oncogene.

Although medulloblastoma has been classically thought of as a single entity, it is becoming increasingly evident that there are many distinct molecular and histological subgroups with overlapping clinical, histological and imaging features 8.

In the 2016 edition of the WHO classification of CNS tumors, four groups were recognized (WNT, SHH, group 3 and group 4). 

In the 5th edition (2021) of the WHO classification of CNS tumors, additional subgroups have been recognized based on DNA-methylation profiling and/or transcriptome profiling 17.  

Overall medulloblastomas account for 12-25% of all pediatric CNS tumors, and 30-40% of pediatric posterior fossa tumors 1,7,17. They are also seen in adults but only account for 0.4-1.0% of adult brain tumors 1. Since there are many more adults than children, 14-30% of all medulloblastomas are found in adults.

Taken as a group, there is a moderate male predilection with a M:F ratio of 2:1, although this is only true of group 3 and 4 tumors 8

They usually present in childhood with 77% of cases before the age of 19. Peak incidence is between 3 and 7 years of age 17. When diagnosed in adulthood, they typically present in the 3rd and 4th decades and are more likely to arise in atypical locations (see below). When they present in adulthood, there is often a better prognosis. 

Importantly the age of presentation and gender ratio is influenced by tumor genomics 7-9,12,17:

  • WNT (~10%)

    • children and adults (not seen in infancy)

    • M:F 1:2

  • SHH-activated TP53-wildtype (~20%)

    • infants and adults (rare in children)

    • M:F 1:1

  • SHH-activated TP53-mutant (~10%)

    • children

    • M:F 3:1

  • group 3 (~25%)

    • infants and children (rare in adults)

    • M:F 2:1

  • group 4 (~35%)

    • typically children but encountered in all age groups

    • M:F 3:1

Medulloblastomas are associated with a number of syndromes, including:

The growth of these very cellular tumors is often rapid and accounts for their relatively rapid clinical onset. Typically, presentation occurs over a few weeks with features that are dominated by symptoms of raised intracranial pressure as a result of obstructive hydrocephalus 7

In approximately 40% of patients, there is evidence of CSF seeding at the time of diagnosis 7.

The tumors, in general, tend to be extremely cellular and are an example of a small round blue cell tumor that results in predictable imaging features (diffusion restriction, hyperdense on non-contrast CT, etc.). 

Although the prognosis of medulloblastomas is variable with some molecular groups (e.g. WNT-activated) having a very high cure rate with appropriate therapy, all medulloblastomas are, at least for now, considered grade 4 tumors 17

The radiographic features are strongly influenced by the histological type and molecular subtype of the tumor. Many of the imaging characteristics can, however, be remembered by thinking of medulloblastoma as a small round blue cell tumor

Overall the vast majority (94%) of medulloblastomas arise in the cerebellum and the majority of these, from the vermis (75%). They tend to protrude into the fourth ventricle from its roof, and may even grow directly into the brainstem 1,7. This pattern is particularly common in group 3 and group 4 and in some SHH-activated tumors 10

Other areas are less common and are seen more frequently in older children and adults. In such cases, the tumor is also more likely to be poorly marginated and demonstrate larger cyst formation 7. Adult medulloblastomas are usually located laterally, in the cerebellar hemispheres, with only 28% centered in the vermis; these are most commonly of the SHH-activated tumorus 10

The cerebellar peduncle epicenter is almost exclusively seen in WNT-activated tumors 8-10

On CT, medulloblastomas often appear as a mass arising from the vermis, resulting in effacement of the fourth ventricle / basal cisterns and obstructive hydrocephalus. They can also occur more laterally in the cerebellum.

They are usually hyperdense (90%) and cysts formation/necrosis is common (40-50%), especially in older patients. Calcification is seen in 10-20% of cases 7.

Enhancement is present in over 90% of cases and is usually prominent 7.

  • T1

    • hypointense to grey matter

  • T1 C+ (Gd)

    • overall 90% enhance, often heterogeneously

    • WNT-activated tumors tend to vividly enhance 17

    • group 4 tumors tend to enhance less 10

  • T2/FLAIR

    • overall are iso to hyperintense to grey matter

    • heterogeneous due to calcification, necrosis and cyst formation

    • surrounding edema is common 10

  • DWI/ADC

    • high DWI signal ("restricted diffusion") - due to their hypercellularity

    • low ADC values (lower than normal cerebellum e.g. ~550 x 10-6 mm2/s) 11

  • MR spectroscopy

    • elevated choline

    • decreased NAA

MRI is able to delineate the fourth ventricle and subarachnoid space to a much greater degree than CT. Although medulloblastomas project into the fourth ventricle, unlike ependymomas they do not usually extend into the basal cisterns 7.

As CSF seeding is common at presentation, imaging with contrast of the whole neuraxis is recommended to identify drop metastases and leptomeningeal spread. Although rare, extraneural spread is reported.

So if all this sounds confusing, that's because it is. Molecular subgroups, histology, location, appearance, and demographics all interact, but this notwithstanding, you can make some fairly robust predictions based on imaging when taking all of these together 10,17. Location is the key to this approach. 

  • cerebellar peduncle/foramen of Luschka

  • cerebellar hemisphere

    • very likely SHH subgroup and therefore intermediate prognosis

    • likely desmoplastic/nodular/medulloblastoma with extensive nodularity (MBEN)

  • midline

    • may be group 3, group 4 or SHH

    • typically infants with a tumor with ill-defined margins but prominent enhancement: likely group 3 (or SHH) and therefore worst prognosis

    • typically children with a tumor with well-defined margins but mild or no enhancement: likely group 4 and therefore slightly better prognosis

    • adults with variably defined and variably enhancing tumors: most likely SHH; hemorrhage raises the probability of group 4 13​

​​MR spectroscopy may also be distinctive 5,14:

  • group 3 or 4

    • taurine peak 

    • high creatine

  • SHH

    • little or no taurine

    • low creatine

Treatment typically consists of surgical resection, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy. In general, the tumors are quite radiosensitive.

Cerebellar mutism syndrome may occur after surgical resection of medulloblastoma 16.

Prognosis is most strongly influenced by molecular subtype 7-9:

  • WNT: very good

  • SHH: infants good, others intermediate

  • group 3: poor

  • group 4: intermediate

Traditionally, and still relevant in addition to molecular characteristics, prognosis if considered poor if young age at diagnosis (<3 years of age), incomplete surgical resection (>1.5 cm3 residual), and presence of CSF metastases at the time of diagnosis; common in infants and children (~25%) and uncommon in adults (~2%) 1,12

Histological features also have an effect on prognosis with desmoplastic and nodular histology having a better outlook than large cell or anaplastic histologic features 12.

Expression of the c-erbB-2 (HER2/neu) oncogene is useful in the staging of medulloblastomas. The increased c-erbB-2 expression reflects an increase in the proliferative activity of a tumor (widely used in breast cancer staging).

  • no CSF metastases, complete surgical resection and negative c-erbB-2 expression: 5-year-survival 100%

  • no CSF metastases, complete surgical resection and positive c-erbB-2 expression: 5-year-survival 54%

  • CSF metastases and/or incomplete surgical resection: 5-year-survival 20%

In 1925, Bailey and Cushing described the first cases of medulloblastomas 1.

In the pediatric population, consider the following alternative diagnoses:

In the adult population, consider the following:

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