Different intellectual outcomes in molecular subgroups of medulloblastoma

Medulloblastoma (MB) is one of the most common pediatric malignant brain tumors, representing up to 20% of newly diagnosed central nervous system tumors in children. Standard treatments for MB include surgical resection, craniospinal irradiation with a posterior fossa boost, and adjuvant chemotherapy (1). Although these strategies can increase the survival of 70–80% of MB patients, they are associated with serious treatment-induced morbidity, including a decline in neurocognitive function (2,3). Reports suggest that neurocognitive functions deteriorate after craniospinal irradiation for MB, and that most MB survivors require substantial care. Studies also indicate that decreasing the radiation dose can prevent this irradiation-associated cognitive decline (2,4,5).