TY  - JOUR
T1  - INfluence of a child's sex on medulloblastoma outcome
AU  - Weil MD, Lamborn K, Edwards MB, Wara WM
Y1  - 1998/05/13
N1  - 10.1001/jama.279.18.1474
JO  - JAMA
SP  - 1474
EP  - 1476
VL  - 279
IS  - 18
N2  - Context.— 
                  Aggressive treatment of medulloblastoma, the most common pediatric brain
tumor, has not improved survival. Identifying better prognostic indicators
may warrant less morbid therapy.Objective.— 
                  To investigate the role of sex on outcome of medulloblastoma.Design.— 
                  Retrospective study of significant factors for survival with a median
follow-up of 82 months.Setting.— 
                  University medical center.Patients.— 
                  A total of 109 consecutive, pediatric patients treated for primary medulloblastoma
from 1970 to 1995 with surgery and postoperative radiotherapy and, after 1979,
chemotherapy.Main Outcome Measures.— 
                  Factors independently associated with survival.Results.— 
                  The final multivariate model predicting improved survival included sex
(hazard ratio, 0.52; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.29-0.92; P=.03; favoring female), metastases at presentation (hazard ratio,
2.01; 95% CI, 1.14-3.52; P=.02), and extent of surgical
resection (hazard ratio, 0.60; 95% CI, 0.34-1.04; P=.07;
favoring greater resection). The overall, 5-year freedom from progression
was 40% and survival was 49%. Radiotherapy dose (P=.72),
and chemotherapy (P=.90) did not significantly affect
a disease outcome.Conclusions.— 
                  The sex of the child was an important predictor for survival of medulloblastoma;
girls had a much better outcome. The difference in survival between sexes
should be evaluated in prospective, clinical trials.
SN  - 0098-7484
M3  - doi: 10.1001/jama.279.18.1474
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/jama.279.18.1474
ER  -