Content provided by National Organization for Rare Disorders

Important

It is possible that the main title of the report Medulloblastoma is not the name you expected.

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.

.

Resources

American Brain Tumor Association

2720 River Road

Suite 146

Des Plaines, IL 60018

USA

Tel: (847)827-9910

Fax: (847)827-9918

Tel: (800)886-2282

Email: info@abta.org

Internet: http://www.abta.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: (404)320-3333

Tel: (800)227-2345

TDD: (866)228-4327

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: hbtrc@mclean.harvard.edu

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: (301)435-3848

Tel: (800)422-6237

TDD: (800)332-8615

Internet: http://www.cancer.gov



OncoLink: The University of Pennsylvania Cancer Center Resource

3400 Spruce Street

2 Donner

Philadelphia, PA 19104-4283

USA

Tel: (215)349-5445

Fax: (215)349-5445

Email: editors@oncolink.upenn.edu

Internet: http://www.oncolink.upenn.edu



Rare Cancer Alliance

1649 North Pacana Way

Green Valley, AZ 85614

USA

Tel: (520)625-5495

Fax: (615)526-4921

Email: sharon.lane@rare-cancer.org

Internet: http://www.rare-cancer.org



Genetic and Rare Diseases (GARD) Information Center

PO Box 8126

Gaithersburg, MD 20898-8126

Tel: (301)251-4925

Fax: (301)251-4911

Tel: (888)205-2311

TDD: (888)205-3223

Email: ordr@od.nih.gov

Internet: http://rarediseases.info.nih.gov/Default.aspx



Madisons Foundation

PO Box 241956

Los Angeles, CA 90024

Tel: (310)264-0826

Fax: (310)264-4766

Email: getinfo@madisonsfoundation.org

Internet: http://www.madisonsfoundation.org



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

American Society of Clinical Oncology

2318 Mill Road

Suite 800

Alexandria, VA 22314

Tel: (571)483-1780

Fax: (571)366-9537

Tel: (888)651-3038

Email: contactus@cancer.net

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

2201 E. Sixth Street

Austin, TX 78702

Tel: (512)236-8820

Fax: (512)236-8482

Tel: (877)236-8820

Email: media@livestrong.org

Internet: http://www.livestrong.org



National Brain Tumor Society

124 Watertown Street, Suite 2D

Watertown, MA 02472

Tel: (617)924-9997

Fax: (617)924-9998

Tel: (800) 770-8287

Email: info@braintumor.org

Internet: http://www.braintumor.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.