Children's Health Alert: Uncovering the early signs and diagnosis of medulloblastoma

Medulloblastoma in children is a highly malignant tumor that often occurs in the cerebellum, posing a serious threat to children's health. Understanding the early symptoms and examination methods of the disease is of great significance for early detection and treatment.

Early symptoms

Headache: Medulloblastoma may cause increased intracranial pressure in the early stages, resulting in headaches. This headache is usually worse at night or in the morning and may be accompanied by dizziness and nausea.

Vomiting: When intracranial pressure increases, the child may experience nausea and vomiting, and the vomiting may be projectile-like, accompanied by symptoms such as loss of appetite.

Vision problems: As the disease progresses, the tumor may press on the optic nerve, causing blurred vision, decreased vision, etc. Sometimes double vision may also occur, especially when gazing outward.

Unstable gait: When the cerebellar vermis is damaged, the child may experience unsteady gait and unstable standing, which may manifest as trunk or gait ataxia.

Hearing loss: Medulloblastoma may cause compression of the cerebellum, affecting ear function and leading to hearing loss.

Paresthesia: When the cerebellar nerves are compressed, the child may experience paresthesias, such as numbness of the limbs.

In addition to the typical symptoms mentioned above, infants may also experience atypical symptoms such as decreased energy, delayed motor development, delayed physical development, and feeding difficulties. If the tumor spreads to the spinal cord, it may also cause back pain, difficulty walking, and difficulty urinating and defecating.

Inspection method

Neurological examination: This may reveal abnormalities of the brain, spinal cord, and nerves. Patients with midline tumors often have truncal or gait ataxia.

Lumbar puncture: Increased cerebrospinal fluid pressure, biochemical protein and leukocytosis account for a certain proportion. However, patients with optic disc edema should be careful during lumbar puncture to avoid inducing brain herniation.

Imaging tests

Plain head X-ray: signs of increased intracranial pressure may be seen, but tumor calcification is extremely rare.

CT scan: It can clearly show the equal-density or slightly higher-density masses in the cerebellar vermis or four chambers, most of which are separated from the bottom of the fourth ventricle. There is a thin low-density edema band around the tumor, which is obviously uniformly enhanced.

MRI: More sensitive in showing the relationship of the tumor to the floor of the fourth ventricle and its origin from the cerebellar vermis.

In summary, the early symptoms of medulloblastoma in children are diverse. Parents should pay close attention to their children's health and seek medical attention in time if any abnormality is found. Through professional examination and diagnosis, early detection and treatment can provide the best treatment opportunity for children.