Major Childhood Cancers: Leukaemia and Brain Tumours

Language Outcomes Following Risk-Adapted Treatments for Tumors Located Within the Posterior Fossa

“…Sixty to 70% of the tumors are located within the posterior fossa. 35,36 The median age at diagnosis ranges from 51 to 71 months. 36 Ependymomas develop from ependymal cells that line the ventricles and most commonly arise from the floor and the roof of the fourth ventricle.…”

“…37 Surgical resection and focal radiotherapy to the primary tumor bed is the standard treatment option in children, 36 but due to the site of origin, complete surgical resection is often not achieved, and relapse in the primary tumor site is common. 35 Five-year survival rate for ependymomas ranges from 24% to 75%. 36 Case 1's risk-adapted treatment involved a combination of maximally safe surgery, which achieved near-total resection of the tumor, followed by a course of conformal local field cranial irradiation.…”

“…37 The lesions are graded according to the level of malignancy, with grade I being benign and grade IV being highly malignant. 35 Age at onset varies, but the typical age of onset for low-grade astrocytomas is 0 to 3 years. 37 Treatment for astrocytomas is aimed at achieving gross total surgical resection.…”

“…40 Most astrocytomas have a favorable prognosis, particularly when the grade classification is low, when complete surgical resection is possible, and when the tumor does not include the brainstem. 35 Five-year event-free survival is experienced in almost 90% of cases. 39 Case 2's risk-adapted treatment consisted of gross total surgical resection only.…”