Posterior Fossa Tumor Overview
Learn About Posterior Fossa Tumor
Posterior fossa tumor is a type of brain tumor located in or near the bottom of the skull.
Infratentorial brain tumors; Brainstem glioma; Cerebellar tumor
The posterior fossa is a small space in the skull, found near the brainstem and cerebellum. The cerebellum is the part of the brain responsible for balance and coordinated movements. The brainstem is responsible for controlling vital body functions, such as breathing.
If a tumor grows in the area of the posterior fossa, it can block the flow of spinal fluid and cause increased pressure on the brain and spinal cord.
Most tumors of the posterior fossa are primary brain cancers. They start in the brain, rather than spreading from somewhere else in the body.
Posterior fossa tumors have no known causes or risk factors.
Symptoms occur very early with posterior fossa tumors and may include:
- Drowsiness
- Headache
- Imbalance
- Nausea
- Uncoordinated walk (ataxia)
- Vomiting
Symptoms from posterior fossa tumors also occur when the tumor damages local structures, such as the cranial nerves. Symptoms of cranial nerve damage include:
- Dilated pupils
- Eye problems
- Face muscle weakness
- Hearing loss
- Loss of feeling in part of the face
- Taste problems
- Unsteadiness when walking
- Vision problems
Most tumors of the posterior fossa are removed with surgery, even if they are not cancerous. There is limited space in the posterior fossa, and the tumor can easily press on critical structures if it grows.
Depending on the type and size of the tumor, radiation treatment may also be used after surgery.
Duke Health Integrated Practice Inc
April Salama is a Hematologist and an Oncologist in Durham, North Carolina. Dr. Salama and is rated as a Distinguished provider by MediFind in the treatment of Posterior Fossa Tumor. Her top areas of expertise are Melanoma, Melanoma of the Eye, Posterior Fossa Tumor, and Primitive Neuroectodermal Tumor (PNET). Dr. Salama is currently accepting new patients.
MD Anderson
Rodabe Amaria is an Oncologist and a Hematologist in Houston, Texas. Dr. Amaria and is rated as a Distinguished provider by MediFind in the treatment of Posterior Fossa Tumor. Her top areas of expertise are Melanoma, Primitive Neuroectodermal Tumor (PNET), Posterior Fossa Tumor, and Metastatic Brain Tumor.
Murali Chintagumpala is a Pediatric Hematologist Oncology specialist and a Hematologist in Houston, Texas. Dr. Chintagumpala and is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in the treatment of Posterior Fossa Tumor. His top areas of expertise are Medulloblastoma, Gliomatosis Cerebri, Brain Tumor, Posterior Fossa Tumor, and Nephrectomy.
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A good outlook depends on finding the cancer early. A total blockage in the flow of spinal fluid can be life threatening. If tumors are found early, surgery can lead to long-term survival.
Complications may include:
- Cranial nerve palsies
- Brain herniation
- Hydrocephalus
- Increased intracranial pressure
Contact your health care provider if you have regular headaches that occur with nausea, vomiting, or vision changes.
Summary: This phase I/II trial tests the safety, side effects, and best dose of selinexor given in combination with standard radiation therapy in treating children and young adults with newly diagnosed diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG) or high-grade glioma (HGG) with a genetic change called H3 K27M mutation. It also tests whether combination of selinexor and standard radiation therapy works to shrink...
Summary: This phase I trial studies the side effects and best dose of volitinib in treating patients with primary central nervous system (CNS) tumors that have come back (recurrent) or does not respond to treatment (refractory). Volitinib may stop the growth of tumor cells by blocking some of the enzymes needed for cell growth.
Published Date: March 31, 2024
Published By: Todd Gersten, MD, Hematology/Oncology, Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute, Wellington, FL. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
Arriaga MA, Brackmann DE. Neoplasms of the posterior fossa. In: Flint PW, Francis HW, Haughey BH, et al, eds. Cummings Otolaryngology: Head and Neck Surgery. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 179.
Dorsey JF, Salinas RD, Dang M, et al. Cancer of the central nervous system. In: Niederhuber JE, Armitage JO, Kastan MB, Doroshow JH, Tepper JE, eds. Abeloff's Clinical Oncology. 6th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 63.
Friehling ED, Meade JC, Bleyer A, Ritchey KA. Principles of cancer treatment. In: Kliegman RM, St. Geme JW, Blum NJ, et al, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 22nd ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2025:chap 543.

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