Skip to main content
Archives of Disease in Childhood logoLink to Archives of Disease in Childhood
. 1983 Sep;58(9):722–727. doi: 10.1136/adc.58.9.722

Growth and endocrine function after treatment for medulloblastoma.

I H Brown, T J Lee, O B Eden, J A Bullimore, D C Savage
PMCID: PMC1628241  PMID: 6414386

Abstract

Children with medulloblastoma in Bristol are treated surgically and with craniospinal irradiation, and in some cases chemotherapy. Thirteen medium or long term survivors were investigated to determine their growth and endocrine function. Their rate of growth was considerably reduced through the first year of their illness and after spinal irradiation spinal growth was poor. Nine children developed growth hormone deficiency. They were clinically euthyroid but 7 had raised basal thyroid stimulating hormone values. Gonadal function was abnormal in all but the youngest child. The rate of survival is increasing in children with medulloblastoma but this is associated with appreciable endocrine abnormalities. Some of these problems are present shortly after treatment ends but others may develop later and long term surveillance is therefore essential.

Full text

PDF
727

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. ANDREW D. S., KERR I. F. CARCINOMA OF THYROID FOLLOWING IRRADIATION FOR MEDULLOBLASTOMA. Clin Radiol. 1965 Jul;16:282–283. doi: 10.1016/s0009-9260(65)80060-5. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. ARNOLD A. Effects of x-irradiation on the hypothalamus: a possible explanation for the therapeutic benefits following x-irradiation of the hypophysial region for pituitary dysfunction. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1954 Aug;14(8):859–868. doi: 10.1210/jcem-14-8-859. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Ash P. The influence of radiation on fertility in man. Br J Radiol. 1980 Apr;53(628):271–278. doi: 10.1259/0007-1285-53-628-271. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Berry M. P., Jenkin R. D., Keen C. W., Nair B. D., Simpson W. J. Radiation treatment for medulloblastoma. A 21-year review. J Neurosurg. 1981 Jul;55(1):43–51. doi: 10.3171/jns.1981.55.1.0043. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Bloom H. J., Wallace E. N., Henk J. M. The treatment and prognosis of medulloblastoma in children. A study of 82 verified cases. Am J Roentgenol Radium Ther Nucl Med. 1969 Jan;105(1):43–62. doi: 10.2214/ajr.105.1.43. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Broadbent V. A., Barnes N. D., Wheeler T. K. Medulloblastoma in childhood: long-term results of treatment. Cancer. 1981 Jul 1;48(1):26–30. doi: 10.1002/1097-0142(19810701)48:1<26::aid-cncr2820480107>3.0.co;2-u. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Conard R. A., Rall J. E., Sutow W. W. Thyroid nodules as a late sequela of radioactive fallout, In a Marshall Island population exposed in 1954. N Engl J Med. 1966 Jun 23;274(25):1391–1399. doi: 10.1056/NEJM196606232742501. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Conte F. A., Grumbach M. M., Kaplan S. L., Reiter E. O. Correlation of luteinizing hormone-releasing factor-induced luteinizing hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone release from infancy to 19 years with the changing pattern of gonadotropin secretion in agonadal patients: relation to the restraint of puberty. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1980 Jan;50(1):163–168. doi: 10.1210/jcem-50-1-163. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Dacou-Voutetakis C., Haidas S., Zannos-Mariolea L. Letter: Radiation and pituitary function in children. Lancet. 1975 Dec 13;2(7946):1206–1207. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(75)92692-6. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Deutsch M., Reigel D. H. The value of myelography in the management of childhood medulloblastoma. Cancer. 1980 Apr 15;45(8):2194–2197. doi: 10.1002/1097-0142(19800415)45:8<2194::aid-cncr2820450831>3.0.co;2-m. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Favus M. J., Schneider A. B., Stachura M. E., Arnold J. E., Ryo U. Y., Pinsky S. M., Colman M., Arnold M. J., Frohman L. A. Thyroid cancer occurring as a late consequence of head-and-neck irradiation. Evaluation of 1056 patients. N Engl J Med. 1976 May 6;294(19):1019–1025. doi: 10.1056/NEJM197605062941901. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Glatstein E., McHardy-Young S., Brast N., Eltringham J. R., Kriss J. P. Alterations in serum thyrotropin (TSH) and thyroid function following radiotherapy in patients with malignant lymphoma. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1971 Jun;32(6):833–841. doi: 10.1210/jcem-32-6-833. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Landberg T. G., Lindgren M. L., Cavallin-Ståhl E. K., Svahn-Tapper G. O., Sundbärg G., Garwicz S., Lagergren J. A., Gunnesson V. L., Brun A. E., Cronqvist S. E. Improvements in the radiotherapy of medulloblastoma, 1946-1975. Cancer. 1980 Feb 15;45(4):670–678. doi: 10.1002/1097-0142(19800215)45:4<670::aid-cncr2820450409>3.0.co;2-k. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. McIntosh N. Medulloblastoma--a changing prognosis? Arch Dis Child. 1979 Mar;54(3):200–203. doi: 10.1136/adc.54.3.200. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. Parker L. N., Belsky J. L., Yamamoto T., Kawamoto S., Keehn R. J. Thyroid carcinoma after exposure to atomic radiation. A continuing survey of a fixed population, Hiroshima and Nagasaki, 1958-1971. Ann Intern Med. 1974 May;80(5):600–604. doi: 10.7326/0003-4819-80-5-600. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. Perry-Keene D. A., Connelly J. F., Young R. A., Wettenhall H. N., Martin F. I. Hypothalamic hypopituitarism following external radiotherapy for tumours distant from the adenohypophysis. Clin Endocrinol (Oxf) 1976 Jul;5(4):373–380. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2265.1976.tb01965.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  17. Probert J. C., Parker B. R., Kaplan H. S. Growth retardation in children after megavoltage irradiation of the spine. Cancer. 1973 Sep;32(3):634–639. doi: 10.1002/1097-0142(197309)32:3<634::aid-cncr2820320316>3.0.co;2-a. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  18. Refetoff S., Harrison J., Karanfilski B. T., Kaplan E. L., De Groot L. J., Bekerman C. Continuing occurrence of thyroid carcinoma after irradiation to the neck in infancy and childhood. N Engl J Med. 1975 Jan 23;292(4):171–175. doi: 10.1056/NEJM197501232920402. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  19. Richards G. E., Wara W. M., Grumbach M. M., Kaplan S. L., Sheline G. E., Conte F. A. Delayed onset of hypopituitarism: sequelae of therapeutic irradiation of central nervous system, eye, and middle ear tumors. J Pediatr. 1976 Oct;89(4):553–559. doi: 10.1016/s0022-3476(76)80385-x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  20. Rowley M. J., Leach D. R., Warner G. A., Heller C. G. Effect of graded doses of ionizing radiation on the human testis. Radiat Res. 1974 Sep;59(3):665–678. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  21. Savage D. C., Swift P. G., Johnston P. G., Goldie D. J., Murphy D. Combined test of anterior pituitary function in children. Arch Dis Child. 1978 Apr;53(4):301–304. doi: 10.1136/adc.53.4.301. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  22. Schilsky R. L., Lewis B. J., Sherins R. J., Young R. C. Gonadal dysfunction in patients receiving chemotherapy for cancer. Ann Intern Med. 1980 Jul;93(1):109–114. doi: 10.7326/0003-4819-93-1-109. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  23. Shalet S. M., Beardwell C. G., Aarons B. M., Pearson D., Jones P. H. Growth impairment in children treated for brain tumours. Arch Dis Child. 1978 Jun;53(6):491–494. doi: 10.1136/adc.53.6.491. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  24. Shalet S. M., Beardwell C. G., Jacobs H. S., Pearson D. Testicular function following irradiation of the human prepubertal testis. Clin Endocrinol (Oxf) 1978 Dec;9(6):483–490. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2265.1978.tb01505.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  25. Shalet S. M., Beardwell C. G., Jones P. H., Pearson D., Orrell D. H. Ovarian failure following abdominal irradiation in childhood. Br J Cancer. 1976 Jun;33(6):655–658. doi: 10.1038/bjc.1976.103. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  26. Shalet S. M., Beardwell C. G., Morris-Jones P. H., Pearson D. Pituitary function after treatment of intracranial tumours in children. Lancet. 1975 Jul 19;2(7925):104–107. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(75)90006-9. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  27. Shalet S. M., Beardwell C. G., Pearson D., Jones P. H. The effect of varying doses of cerebral irradiation on growth hormone production in childhood. Clin Endocrinol (Oxf) 1976 May;5(3):287–290. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2265.1976.tb01955.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  28. Shalet S. M., Beardwell C. G., Twomey J. A., Jones P. H., Pearson D. Endocrine function following the treatment of acute leukemia in childhood. J Pediatr. 1977 Jun;90(6):920–923. doi: 10.1016/s0022-3476(77)80559-3. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  29. Shalet S. M., Rosenstock J. D., Beardwell C. G., Pearson D., Jones P. H. Thyroid dysfunction following external irradiation to the neck for Hodgkin's disease in childhood. Clin Radiol. 1977 Sep;28(5):511–515. doi: 10.1016/s0009-9260(77)80066-4. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  30. Winter J. S., Faiman C. Serum gonadotropin in concentrations in agonadal children and adults. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1972 Oct;35(4):561–564. doi: 10.1210/jcem-35-4-561. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Archives of Disease in Childhood are provided here courtesy of BMJ Publishing Group

RESOURCES