MODERN TREATMENT STRATEGIES IN MEDULLOBLASTOMA

Chemotherapy has an important role in the modern treatment of children with medulloblastoma (MB). In patients at high risk, intense chemothe rapy should improve the survival rate. In low-risk patients chemothera py should allow the dose of craniospinal irradiation to be reduced, wh ich in turn should improve the quality of life. In infants under 3 yea rs of age radiotherapy should be delayed, or even replaced by post-ope rative chemotherapy. Chemotherapy is also necessary to prevent or trea t systemic dissemination. The optimal timing of chemotherapy is a focu s of contemporary research.