Astrocytoma I

Pilozytic Astrocytoma

The pilocytic astrocytoma is a clearly defined, sometimes cystic glioma, that principally occurs in children and young adult. It is classified as a benign tumour and rarely turns into a higher-grade glioma.

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Histology of Pilocytic Astrocytoma

• a benign, slowly growing tumour (who-grade I)

Epidemiology of Pilocytic Astrocytoma

• most frequently occuring tumour in childhood
• peak age around 10, rare in adulthood

Symptoms of Pilocytic Astrocytoma

• symptoms of cerebral pressure (headache, nausea and emesis)
• neurological deficits (impaired vision, uncertain gait)
• hypothalamic malfunctions (e.g. overweight)
• rarely epileptical seizures

Diagnosing Pilocitic Astrocytoma

• neurological examination, MRI and CT
• possibly endocrinological or ophtahlmological examination
• clearly defined, mostly heterogenous tumour
• solidly contrast enhancing, possibly cystic components without contrast agent enhancement
• main localisation in midbrain, cerebellum and brain stem, temporal, also optic nerve and thalamus
• frequently occuring in patients with neurofibromatosis type I

Therapy of Pilocytic Astrocytoma

• of possible, complete surgical removal
• in case of incomplete surgical removal possibly radiotherapy
• radiotherapy in astrocytomas at the brain stem

Therapy of Recurrent Pilocytic Astrocytoma

• re-operation
• possibly (second) irradiation
• possibly chemotherapy

Aftercare of Pilocytic Astrocytoma

• MRI every three months, after one year regularity after six to twelve months
• contrast-enhanced MRI is the method of choice
• possibly neurological, ophthalmological or endocrinological examinations

Course of Pilocytic Astrocytoma

• inoperable or partly removes tumours stay constant over years
• sometimes spontaneous regress can be observed
• only in very few cases transformation into a higher-grade astrocytoma

Prognosis of Pilocytic Astrocytoma

• depending on possibilty of surgical removal
• complete surgical removal can be similar to a cure

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