Medulloblastoma

Your healthcare provider will talk with you about symptoms and review your medical history in detail. If they suspect medulloblastoma, they’ll order tests to confirm your diagnosis.

What tests will be done to diagnose medulloblastoma?

There are a few different tests that can help your healthcare provider make a diagnosis. These assessments may include:

• A neurological examination. Your healthcare provider will check your hearing and vision, along with your coordination and reflexes. This helps determine which area of your brain may be affected.
• CT (computed tomography) scan. This scan takes several pictures of your brain, then stitches the pictures together to create a detailed, 3D image.
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). This imaging test uses magnets and radio waves to capture detailed pictures of structures inside of your body.
• Biopsy. In some cases, your healthcare provider may take a tissue sample and send it to a pathology lab for analysis. A biopsy is usually only performed if imaging tests aren’t enough to diagnose the condition.
• Spinal tap (lumbar puncture). During this procedure, your healthcare provider removes cerebrospinal fluid to test it for cancer cells. A spinal tap is usually only performed after removing the tumor or managing the pressure buildup in your brain.