“Not All Medulloblastomas Alike”; Variations in Treatment Approaches Urged

Newswise — SAN FRANCISCO (April 8, 2014) — 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.”

Michael Taylor, MD, PhD, also contributed to these research findings.

Disclosure: The author reported no conflicts of interest.

Media Representatives: The 2014 AANS Annual Meeting Press Kit includes releases on highlighted scientific research, AANS officer and award winners, National Neurosurgery Awareness Week, and other relevant information about this year’s program. Those releases also will be posted under the Media area on the 2014 AANS Annual Scientific Meeting website (http://www.aans.org/Annual Meeting/2014/Main/Media.aspx). If you would have interest in a topic related to neurosurgery or would like to interview a neurosurgeon — either onsite or via telephone — during this year’s event, please contact John Iwanski, AANS Director of Integrated Marketing and Website Communications, via the onsite press room at 415.978.3603 or e-mail him at [email protected].

About the 2014 AANS Annual Scientific Meeting: Attended by neurosurgeons, neurosurgical residents, medical students, neuroscience nurses, clinical specialists, physician assistants, allied health professionals and other medical professionals, the AANS Annual Scientific Meeting is the largest gathering of neurosurgeons in the nation, with an emphasis on the field’s latest research and technological advances. A record-breaking 1,321 scientific abstracts were presented for review at the 2014 AANS Annual Scientific Meeting, and the scientific presentations given at this year’s event represent cutting-edge examples of the incredible developments taking place within the field of neurosurgery. Additional information about the AANS Annual Scientific Meeting and the Meeting Program can be found at http://www.aans.org/Annual Meeting/2014/Main/Home.aspx.

Founded in 1931 as the Harvey Cushing Society, the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS) is a scientific and educational association with nearly 8,600 members worldwide. The AANS is dedicated to advancing the specialty of neurological surgery in order to provide the highest quality of neurosurgical care to the public. All active members of the AANS are certified by the American Board of Neurological Surgery, the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons (Neurosurgery) of Canada or the Mexican Council of Neurological Surgery, AC. Neurological surgery is the medical specialty concerned with the prevention, diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of disorders that affect the entire nervous system including the spinal column, spinal cord, brain and peripheral nerves. For more information, visit www.AANS.org.

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