Primitive Neuroectodermal Tumor (Medulloblastoma)

Music to “Danny Boy”, Lyrics by Arie Perry

Oh primitive neuroectodermal tumor; ye be a harsh embryonal neoplasm
Hypercellular with apoptotic nuclei; a small blue cell tumor with little cytoplasm
You grow so fast, mitoses are a plenty; afflicting lads, as young as young may be
And you can spread, through CSF like icing
We’ll break your stride with rads and chemotherapy


You show divergent differentiation, along neuronal lines most commonly
Homer Wright rosettes is one manifestation, with synaptophysin positivity
The cerebellum is the site you favor; medulloblastoma’s the name we grant to thee
And your prognosis may be somewhat better
Than the supratentorial PNET


On MRI, you’re solid and enhancing, with brain invasion microscopically
The differential that we are examining, ependymoma and pilocytic naturally
Our therapies have been somewhat successful, with survivals up to eighty percent
But infants’ side effects are still disgraceful
Superior chemo’s needed before we’ll feel content
Superior chemo’s needed before we’ll feel content