[Results of combination treatment of medulloblastoma at the Charlottenburg Hospital of the Berlin Free University (1951 to 1980)].

Between 1951 and 1980 34 patients, mainly children, were treated for medulloblastoma in Klinikum Charlottenburg of the Free University of Berlin. Between 1951 and 1970 in 14 patients only the posterior fossa was irradiated (group A), between 1971 and 1976 the whole CNS was irradiated with varying techniques in eight patients while between 1976 and 1980 the whole CNS was radiated in a new standardized fashion in twelve patients (group C). Since 1972 16 of the 20 patients of groups B and C were treated by additional chemotherapy, which in six cases was given postoperatively prior to radiation. While no patient in group A survived more than three years two patients of group B (25%) and eleven patients of group C (92%) are relapse-free after five years. It seems that improvement of diagnostic procedures (CT), introduction of microsurgical techniques as well as more subtle radiation techniques and intensified chemotherapy account for the good results.