Medulloblastoma

Important
It is possible that the main title of the report Medulloblastoma is not the name you expected. Please check the synonyms listing to find the alternate name(s) and disorder subdivision(s) covered by this report.

Synonyms

None

Disorder Subdivisions

None

General Discussion

Medulloblastoma is a cancerous (malignant) tumor of the lower part of the brain (infratentorial [posterior fossa] tumor) that is derived from immature nerve cells known as neuroblasts (i.e., primitive neuroectodermal tumor [PNET]). It is considered the most common malignant brain tumor in children yet is extremely rare in adults.

Medulloblastomas generally arise in the back (posterior), mid region (i.e., vermis) of the cerebellum, which is the part of the brain behind the brain stem involved in coordinating voluntary movements and regulating balance and posture. They typically infiltrate the roof or side wall of the fluid-filled fourth cavity (ventricle) of the brain, extending into the cavity. (There are four ventricles within the brain that are filled with cerebrospinal fluid [CSF] and joined by ducts, through which the fluid circulates.) Medulloblastomas may invade the protective membranes (meninges) surrounding the brain and spread (metastasize) via the CSF to the spinal cord, to the surface of the hemispheres of the brain (cerebrum), and, less commonly, to sites outside the brain and spinal cord (i.e., central nervous system), particularly to bone.
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Resources

American Brain Tumor Association
2720 River Road
Suite 146
Des Plaines, IL 60018
USA
Tel: 8478279910
Fax: 8478279918
Tel: 8008862282
Email: info@abta.org
Internet: http://www.abta.org

National Brain Tumor Foundation
22 Battery Street
Suite 612
San Francisco, CA 94111-5520
USA
Tel: 4158349970
Fax: 4158349980
Tel: 8009342873
Email: nbtf@braintumor.org
Internet: http://www.braintumor.org

Brain Tumor Society
124 Watertown Street
Suite 3H
Watertown, MA 02472-2500
Tel: (617)924-9997
Fax: (617)924-9998
Tel: (800)770-8287
Email: info@tbts.org
Internet: http://www.tbts.org

Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Foundation
P.O. Box 498
Kensington, MD 20895-0498
Tel: (301)962-3520
Fax: (301)962-3521
Tel: (800)366-2223
Email: staff@candlelighters,org
Internet: http://www.candlelighters.org

American Cancer Society, Inc.
1599 Clifton Road NE
Atlanta, GA 30329
USA
Tel: 4043203333
Tel: 8002272345
Internet: http://www.cancer.org

Harvard Brain Tissue Resource Center
McLean Hospital
115 Mill Street
Belmont, MA 02478
Tel: (617)855-2400
Fax: (617)855-3199
Tel: (800)272-4622
Email: btrc@mclean.org
Internet: http://www.brainbank.mclean.org

National Cancer Institute Physician Data Query (PDQ) Cancer Information Service
9000 Rockville Pike
Bethesda, MD 20892
Tel: (800)422-6237
Internet: http://www.cancernet.nci.nih.gov/pdq.html

National Cancer Institute
6116 Executive Blvd, MSC 8322, Room 3036A
Bethesda, MD 20892-8322
USA
Tel: 3014353848
Tel: 8004226237
TDD: 8003328615
Internet: http://www.cancer.gov

OncoLink: The University of Pennsylvania Cancer Center Resource
3400 Spruce Street
2 Donner
Philadelphia, PA 19104-4283
USA
Tel: 2153495445
Fax: 2153495445
Email: editors@oncolink.upenn.edu
Internet: http://www.oncolink.upenn.edu

Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation
302 Ridgefield Court
Asheville, NC 28806
Tel: (828)665-6891
Fax: (828)665-6894
Tel: (800)253-6530
Internet: http://www.pbtfus.org

Friends of Cancer Research
2231 Crystal Drive
Suite 200
Arlington, VA 22202
Tel: (703)302-1503
Fax: (703)302-1568
Email: info@focr.org
Internet: http://www.focr.org

Cancer.Net
1900 Duke Street
Suite 200
Alexandria, VA 22314
Tel: (703)299-0150
Fax: (703)684-8618
Tel: (888)651-3038
Email: contactus@plwc.org
Internet: http://www.cancer.net/patient

Wellness Community
919 18th Street N.W.
Suite 54
Washington, DC 20006
Tel: (202)659-9709
Fax: (202)659-9301
Tel: (888)793-9355
Email: help@thewellnesscommunity.org
Internet: http://www.thewellnesscommunity.org

Lance Armstrong Foundation
PO Box 161550
Austin, TX 78716-1150
Tel: (512)236-8820
Fax: (512)236-8482
Tel: (866)235-7205
Internet: http://www.livestrong.org

For a Complete Report

This is an abstract of a report from the National Organization for Rare Disorders, Inc. ® (NORD). A copy of the complete report can be obtained for a small fee by visiting the NORD website. The complete report contains additional information including symptoms, causes, affected population, related disorders, standard and investigational treatments (if available), and references from medical literature. For a full-text version of this topic, see http://www.rarediseases.org/search/rdblist.html

The information provided in this report is not intended for diagnostic purposes. It is provided for informational purposes only. NORD recommends that affected individuals seek the advice or counsel of their own personal physicians.
It is possible that the title of this topic is not the name you selected. Please check the Synonyms listing to find the alternate name(s) and Disorder Subdivision(s) covered by this report.
This disease entry is based upon medical information available through the date at the end of the topic. Since NORD's resources are limited, it is not possible to keep every entry in the Rare Disease Database completely current and accurate. Please check with the agencies listed in the Resources section for the most current information about this disorder.
For additional information and assistance about rare disorders, please contact the National Organization for Rare Disorders at P.O. Box 1968, Danbury, CT 06813-1968; phone (203) 744-0100; web site www.rarediseases.org or email orphan@rarediseases.org
Last Updated: 4/17/2008
Copyright 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 2001, 2002 National Organization for Rare Disorders, Inc.

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