Adult height and adult sitting height in childhood medulloblastoma survivors

J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2003 Oct;88(10):4677-81. doi: 10.1210/jc.2003-030619.

Abstract

Outcome in adult height and sitting height is poor in children surviving medulloblastoma due to craniospinal irradiation (CSRT) and chemotherapy. We evaluated adult height and sitting height in 51 medulloblastoma patients stratified into four groups: G1, GH-deficient (GHD) patients treated with 23-39 Gy CSRT but not treated with GH [recombinant human (rh)GH]; G2, patients treated with rhGH; G3, patients who were not GHD; and G4, patients treated with 18 Gy CSRT and rhGH. Standing/sitting height of each group was compared with parental height and previously reported outcome studies. The rhGH dose was 0.3 mg/kg.wk, a higher dose compared with other reports of adult heights. The adult heights were significantly taller in group G2 [mean height SD score (SDS) = -1.86] than that achieved in previous studies (P < 0.0001), but not different from group G3, non-GHD (mean SDS = -1.55). The tallest stature achieved was in group G4 (18 Gy CSRT), a height SDS of -1.01. Sitting heights were significantly less than the normal population, with mean SDS of -2.96 but -1.62 in group G4. We conclude that adult heights but not sitting heights in medulloblastoma survivors are significantly improved with the higher dose of rhGH. The lower dose of CSRT further improves not only adult height but also sitting height.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Age of Onset
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating / therapeutic use
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / therapeutic use
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / therapeutic use*
  • Body Height*
  • Cerebellar Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Cerebellar Neoplasms / radiotherapy*
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Cisplatin / therapeutic use
  • Female
  • Human Growth Hormone / administration & dosage
  • Human Growth Hormone / deficiency
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Lomustine / therapeutic use
  • Male
  • Medulloblastoma / drug therapy*
  • Medulloblastoma / radiotherapy*
  • Radiation-Sensitizing Agents / therapeutic use
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Vincristine / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic
  • Radiation-Sensitizing Agents
  • Human Growth Hormone
  • Vincristine
  • Lomustine
  • Cisplatin