Differential diagnosis of pediatric posterior fossa brain tumors

GAME

• Brainstem Glioma (20%)
• Cerebellar Astrocytoma (30%)
• Medulloblastoma (40%)
• Ependymoma (10%)

Approach to the differential diagnosis of posterior fossa brain tumors:

• In children 0-3 years they are centered around fourth ventricle
  — Brainstem glioma is anterior to the fourth ventricle
  — Cerebellar astrocytoma is lateral to the fourth ventricle
  — Medulloblastoma is in the fourth ventricle, has restricted diffusion on MRI
  — Ependymoma is in the fourth ventricle, does not have restricted diffusion on MRI