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Medulloblastoma

Case contributed by Frank Gaillard
Diagnosis certain

Presentation

Headache.

Patient Data

Age: 25 years
Gender: Male

MRI Brain

mri

Left cerebellar hemisphere mass, very heterogeneous with cystic areas and only minimal enhancement of the solid component, has strikingly low ADC values (measured at 450 x 10-6 mm2/s) consistent with a highly cellular tumor. Medulloblastoma is by far the most likely diagnosis. 

Case Discussion

The patient went on to have a craniotomy and histology confirmed the diagnosis of a medulloblastoma, with typical 'small round blue cell' tumor appearances. 

The location and appearances are also typical of a medulloblastoma in an adult. 

It is important to remember that in older children and adults such tumor is more likely to be poorly marginated and demonstrates larger cyst formations. Adult medulloblastomas are usually located laterally, in the cerebellar hemispheres, with only 28% centered in the vermis (opposed to ~75% in children).

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