Medulloblastoma in childhood: long-term results of treatment
Thirty-one children under the age of 15 years with verified medulloblastoma were treated at Addenbrookes Hospital from 1940 to 1976. In addition to surgical treatment, all received high dose irradiation to the whole neuraxis. Nine were still alive in 1979, of whom eight were examined. All these patients showed some residual problems, but five were leading active lives and had only minor physical disability. There was evidence of disturbance in growth, with shortening of the spine in relation to the limbs, in all the children. The height centile was lower than expected from parental height in four and one was severely dwarfed. Growth hormone secretion in response to exercise was, however, normal in five of six patients tested. Three children also showed failure of growth of the jaw sufficiently severe to be a cosmetic problem. Frank mental retardation was present in three children. A raised resting TSH level was found in two children, one of whom had a multinodular goiter. Of the three children with severe problems, two had been treated when under two years of age. Long-term follow-up of children who survive medulloblastoma is clearly necessary and consideration should perhaps be given to revision of current treatment regimes in very young children.
- OSTI ID:
- 5577921
- Journal Information:
- Cancer (Philadelphia); (United States), Vol. 48:1
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
CEREBELLUM
DELAYED RADIATION EFFECTS
JAW
RADIOTHERAPY
SIDE EFFECTS
VERTEBRAE
ANIMAL GROWTH
CARCINOMAS
CHILDREN
EXTERNAL IRRADIATION
LOCAL IRRADIATION
MEDICAL SURVEILLANCE
MENTAL DISORDERS
PATIENTS
RADIATION DOSES
RADIOINDUCTION
STH
TSH
AGE GROUPS
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BIOLOGICAL RADIATION EFFECTS
BODY
BRAIN
CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM
DISEASES
DOSES
GROWTH
HORMONES
IRRADIATION
MEDICINE
NEOPLASMS
NERVOUS SYSTEM
NUCLEAR MEDICINE
ORGANS
PEPTIDE HORMONES
PITUITARY HORMONES
RADIATION EFFECTS
RADIOLOGY
SKELETON
SKULL
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550603* - Medicine- External Radiation in Therapy- (1980-)
560151 - Radiation Effects on Animals- Man
550200 - Biochemistry