High dose ACNU and radiation therapy with autologous bone marrow rescue for a patient with cerebellar medulloblastoma: case report
Matsumoto, M.; Yamashita, J.; Okamoto, S.; Handa, H.; Sawada, H.; Abe, M.
No Shinkei Geka. Neurological Surgery 12(6): 731-736
1984
ISSN/ISBN: 0301-2603 PMID: 6379491 Document Number: 233413
High dose ACNU and radiation therapy with autologous bone marrow rescue was performed in a 3-year-old boy suffering from cerebellar medulloblastoma, whose main mass had been removed at operation when widespread subarachnoid tumor dissemination was already present. The myelosuppression, which is a major side effect of high dose chemotherapy, was successfully prevented by the autologous bone marrow grafting and the serial CT scans showed complete disappearance of the tumor. However, the patient died on the 53rd day after the administration of ACNU of respiratory complication which was most likely due to pulmonary fibrosis. Although the autologous bone marrow rescue therapy is a technical advance to cope with myelosuppression secondary to chemotherapy, side effects of the other organs, particularly of the respiratory system, remain to be solved. The optimal treatment schedule should be established as soon as possible.