OBJECTIVE: To correlate imaging findings of medulloblastomas at conventional magnetic resonance imaging, diffusion-weighted imaging and proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy, comparing them with data in the literature. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Preoperative magnetic resonance imaging studies of nine pediatric patients with histologically confirmed medulloblastomas (eight desmoplastic medulloblastoma, and one giant cell medulloblastoma) were retrospectively reviewed, considering demographics as well as tumors characteristics such as localization, morphology, signal intensity, contrast-enhancement, dissemination, and diffusion-weighted imaging and spectroscopy findings. RESULTS: In most of cases the tumors were centered in the cerebellar vermis (77.8%), predominantly solid (88.9%), hypointense on T1-weighted images and intermediate/hyperintense on T2-FLAIR-weighted images, with heterogeneous enhancement (100%), tumor dissemination/extension (77.8%) and limited water molecule mobility (100%). Proton spectroscopy acquired with STEAM technique (n = 6) demonstrated decreased Naa/Cr ratio (83.3%) and increased Co/Cr (100%) and mI/Cr (66.7%) ratios; and with PRESS technique (n = 7) demonstrated lactate peak (57.1%). CONCLUSION: Macroscopic magnetic resonance imaging findings in association with biochemical features of medulloblastomas have been useful in the differentiation among the most frequent posterior fossa tumors.

Keywords: Medulloblastoma, Infratentorial neoplasms, Pediatric brain tumors, Magnetic resonance imaging, Diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging, Magnetic resonance spectroscopy