Children With Medulloblastoma: Surgical Outcomes and Survival Challenges.
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Background Medulloblastoma is one of the most common malignant pediatric brain tumors and remains associated with significant morbidity and mortality despite multimodal treatment strategies. Objective This study aimed to evaluate the clinical characteristics and prognostic factors influencing overall survival in pediatric patients diagnosed with medulloblastoma. Methods This retrospective cohort study analyzed pediatric patients diagnosed with medulloblastoma who underwent surgical resection between 2018 and 2022. Demographic, radiologic, histopathologic, and therapeutic variables were collected. OS and associated prognostic factors were assessed using the Kaplan-Meier method. Results A total of 24 patients were included, with a mean age of 7.83 years; 66.7% were male. Headache was the most frequent presenting symptom (41.7%). Tumors were most commonly located in the cerebellar vermis (33.3%), and the desmoplastic variant was the predominant histological subtype (54%). Homogeneous contrast enhancement was observed in 62% of cases. Subtotal resection was performed in 79.2% of patients. Three patients were lost to follow-up. Among the remaining 21 patients, 13 died during the study period. Median overall survival was 32.28 months, with a 20-month overall survival rate of 57.2%. Total resection was associated with improved survival outcomes. Tumor location and histological subtype also influenced prognosis. Conclusion Medulloblastoma continues to demonstrate variable survival outcomes depending on tumor- and treatment-related factors. Surgical resection combined with adjuvant therapy remains essential in the management of pediatric patients with medulloblastoma.