ON THIS PAGE: You will find out more about the factors that increase the chance of developing childhood medulloblastoma. Use the menu to see other pages.

What are the risk factors for medulloblastoma?

A risk factor is anything that increases a person’s chance of developing cancer. Although risk factors often influence the development of cancer, most do not directly cause it. Some people with several risk factors never develop cancer, while others with no known risk factors do.

Doctors are gradually understanding what causes most childhood tumors, including medulloblastoma. The following factors are linked with a higher risk of medulloblastoma during childhood:

• Sex. Medulloblastoma is more common in boys than in girls.

• Age. Medulloblastoma occurs most often in the first 8 years of life, with about half of cases occurring in children younger than 6 years old.

• Genetics. The following genetic conditions are associated with a higher risk of developing medulloblastoma:

  • Nevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome (NBCCS)

  • Turcot syndrome, which is a subtype of familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP)

  • Lynch syndrome

  • BRCA1 gene mutations

The next section in this guide is Symptoms and Signs. It explains what changes or medical problems medulloblastoma can cause. Use the menu to choose a different section to read in this guide.