OUTCOME OF CHILDREN WITH MEDULLOBLASTOMA TREATED IN A TERTIARY REFERRAL CENTRE IN MALAYSIA

Medulloblastoma is the most common childhood malignant brain tumour. A retrospective review of all children diagnosed with medulloblastoma referred and treated at the Paediatric Haematology & Oncology unit, Hospital Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia over a 20 year period between January 1997 and December 2016 was conducted. Patients were identified through an electronic patient database kept by the treating Paediatric Haematologist & Oncologist in the centre. A total of 66 patients were identified. Boys (43 patients, 65%) outnumbered girls (23 patients, 35%) at a ratio of 2:1. The mean age at diagnosis is 6.8 years old. Thirty five patients (52%) are classified as high risks based only on age (less than 3 years old at diagnosis) and presence of metastatic disease at diagnosis. The estimated 5 year survival rates for the whole group, children in the standard risk group and the high risk group are 64%, 86% and 44% respectively. Complete current information is only available for 30 survivors. Amongst them, thirteen patients (43%) has various neurological deficits, seven (23%) developed endocrine complications and eight (27%) have both neurological & endocrine complications. Only two patients (7%) are free from long term neurological & endocrine complications. Survival outcome of children with standard risk medulloblastoma treated in Hospital Kuala Lumpur is comparable with that in developed countries. However, the outcome of children with high risk medulloblastoma should be further improved.