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Not all medulloblastomas alike: Variations in treatment approaches urged

Date:
April 8, 2014
Source:
American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS)
Summary:
Significant differences in medulloblastoma tumors have been identified by researchers, and these results are expected to change the way neurosurgeons approach the treatment of them. "We hope the results of this work will be to decrease surgical morbidity in those patients who will not benefit from an aggressive tumor resection. We also hope the findings of this work will help reduce the number of patients considered 'high risk' following an incomplete surgical resection, thereby reducing the amount of adjuvant radiation and the neurocognitive problems associated with radiation."
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Medulloblastoma, a rapidly growing brain tumor, can be categorized as four genetically and clinically distinct subtypes. Traditionally, increased extent of resection (EOR) has been linked to an improved prognosis in some medulloblastomas. A global team of more than 40 researchers at 20 institutions studied more than 500 medulloblastomas to determine the clinical importance of EOR and metastatic stage.

Known as The Clinical Importance of Extent of Resection in Medulloblastoma Is Dependent on Molecular Subgroup, the study revealed significant differences in the tumors by subgroup. Team leader Eric M. Thompson, MD, presented the study's findings today during the 82nd Annual Scientific Meeting of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS).

All medulloblastomas are not the same, said Dr. Thompson. "We found that some patients will benefit from increased extent of resection while others do not."

The study is expected to change the way neurosurgeons approach the treatment of medulloblastoma. "We hope the results of this work will be to decrease surgical morbidity in those patients who will not benefit from an aggressive tumor resection. We also hope the findings of this work will help reduce the number of patients considered 'high risk' following an incomplete surgical resection, thereby reducing the amount of adjuvant radiation and the neurocognitive problems associated with radiation."


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Materials provided by American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS). Note: Content may be edited for style and length.


Cite This Page:

American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS). "Not all medulloblastomas alike: Variations in treatment approaches urged." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 8 April 2014. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/04/140408154100.htm>.
American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS). (2014, April 8). Not all medulloblastomas alike: Variations in treatment approaches urged. ScienceDaily. Retrieved March 28, 2024 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/04/140408154100.htm
American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS). "Not all medulloblastomas alike: Variations in treatment approaches urged." ScienceDaily. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/04/140408154100.htm (accessed March 28, 2024).

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