Since medulloblastomas usually develop near the fourth ventricle, they frequently disrupt the flow of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and create pressure inside the skull, a condition known as hydrocephalus. In very young children (under age 3), hydrocephalus may cause the skull to bulge. More typical symptoms include:
- Nausea and vomiting
- Morning headache (which often goes away after vomiting)
- Irritability, or changes in personality or behavior
- Drowsiness
- Loss of coordination
- Problems with walking and balance
- Double vision
Most children who have headaches or nausea don’t have brain tumors, of course. But any child showing neurological symptoms such as those listed above should be seen by a pediatrician for a checkup. When a tumor is suspected, the child should be evaluated by an experienced neurosurgeon for an accurate diagnosis (see Diagnosing and Treating a Medulloblastoma).
Our Care Team
- Vice Chairman, Neurological Surgery
- Director, Pediatric Neurological Surgery
Phone: 212-746-2363
- Vice Chairman for Academic Affairs
- Professor of Neurological Surgery, Pediatric Neurosurgery
- Associate Residency Director
Phone: 212-746-2363
- Victor and Tara Menezes Clinical Scholar in Neuroscience
- Associate Professor of Neurological Surgery in Pediatrics
Phone: 212-746-2363
Reviewed by: Mark Souweidane, MD
Last reviewed/last updated: April 2022