Purpose or Case Report: Brain tumors are the most common solid tumor of childhood and the leading cause of death among all childhood cancers. Because many pediatric brain tumors occur infratentorially, it is important for the radiologist to recognize and distinguish both classic and more rare tumors that can present within this region. The purpose of this presentation is to review the imaging findings associated with the most common posterior fossa tumors in children, discuss their differentiating features, and expand upon this differential by including imaging characteristics of less common, but equally important neoplasms occuring within the posterior fossa.
Methods & Materials: A retrospective review of pediatric brain tumors was performed at St. Christopher's Hospital for Children. A series of cases with identified infratentorial tumors were collected for review and presentation.
Results: Neuroradiologic examinations of children with identified posterior fossa tumors were collected for review. The classic and distinguishing imaging characteristics of the most common pediatric infratentorial tumors are presented, including juvenile pilocytic astrocytoma, brainstem glioma, medulloblastoma, and ependymoma. Additionally discussed are less common neoplasms including atypical teratoid rhabdoid tumor (ATRT), hemangioblastoma, vestibular schwannoma, and cerebellopontine angle epidermoid/dermoid.
Conclusions: Brain tumors, particularly within the infratentorial region, cause significant morbidity and mortality in the pediatric population. Knowledge of distinguishing characteristics of both common and more rare posterior fossa tumors can aid the radiologist in an accurate and clinically relevant diagnosis.