Pediatric posterior fossa tumors

Abstract

Tumors of the posterior fossa account for about 50-55% of brain tumors in childhood. The most frequent tumor entities are medulloblastomas, pilocytic astrocytomas, ependymomas, diffuse midline gliomas and atypical teratoid-rhabdoid tumors. Neuroradiological differential diagnosis with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is of considerable importance for preoperative planning as well as planning of follow-up therapy. Most important findings for differential diagnosis of pediatric posterior fossa tumors are tumor location, patient age and the intratumoral apparent diffusion assessed by diffusion-weighted imaging. Advanced MR techniques like MRI perfusion and MR spectroscopy can be helpful both in the initial differential diagnosis and in tumor surveillance, but exceptional characteristics of certain tumor entities should be kept in mind. Standard clinical MRI sequences including diffusion-weighted imaging are the main diagnostic tool in evaluating posterior fossa tumors in children. Advanced imaging methods can be helpful, but should never be interpreted separately from conventional MRI sequences.