Extraneural metastasis in medulloblastoma

Abstract

Extraneural metastasis in medulloblastoma is rare and occurs in 1–2% at initial diagnosis and up to 5–10% during a patient’s lifetime. The most common sites of extraneural spread are the bone, bone marrow and lymph nodes. The survival is generally thought to be poor, but recent studies have indicated that certain subsets of patients may have a better outcome. Adverse prognostic factors have been identified which include concurrent central nervous system involvement, presence of lung or liver metastasis, a time of interval of <18 months from initial diagnosis of medulloblastoma to development of extraneural metastasis and patient age <16 years at time of extraneural spread.