How Do You Diagnose Medulloblastoma?
A medulloblastoma is a brain tumor found in the cerebella of affected children. It is classified as a primitive neuroectodermal tumor and accounts for 30 percent of all pediatric brain tumors. A medulloblastoma usually originates from the posterior fossa but can spread through the entire central nervous system and other tissue, especially to bone. The following steps will show how to diagnose a medulloblastoma. Expect a medulloblastoma to be asymptomatic until it grows large enough to compress the cerebrospinal fluid pathways. The resulting hydrocephalus raises the intracranial pressure causing most of the initial symptoms. Most patients seek treatment within two months of the onset of symptoms. Observe symptoms of a medulloblastoma to be related to the patient’s age. Younger children may exhibit irritability, listlessness and other behavioral changes. Older patients may experience headaches, especially when they first wake up. Vomiting is common in patients of all ages. Perform a Magn