• Rachel Grossman and Zvi Ram.
• Department of Neurosurgery, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv Medical Center, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel. Electronic address: rachelgr@tasmc.health.gov.il.
• World Neurosurg. 2016 Apr 1; 88: 140-145.

BackgroundThe posterior fossa is the site of many types of tumors, and brain metastases are the most common malignancies in that location among adults. Other brain tumors, such as ependymomas, medulloblastomas, and juvenile pilocytic astrocytomas, mostly occur during childhood and are relatively rare in adults. Most primary malignant brain tumors, such as gliomas and lymphomas, tend to be located in the supratentorial compartment.MethodsThis review summarizes prognostic factors, therapeutic management, and molecular data of intra-axial posterior fossa tumors in adults, including ependymomas, medulloblastomas, and pilocytic astrocytomas.ResultsThe literature on intra-axial posterior fossa tumors in adults relies mainly on limited retrospective clinical studies, and such studies employ a wide range of treatment approaches that are usually based on therapies developed specifically for children or for supratentorial brain tumors.ConclusionsThe clinical course and surgical outcome of adult patients with intra-axial brain tumors in the posterior fossa are summarized in this review. The prognostic factors and therapeutic management of patients with these tumors are controversial because of their rarity, their heterogeneity, and the lack of sufficient data in the literature.Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

19 keywords...

hide…