Pilocytic astrocytoma
| Pilocytic astrocytoma | |
|---|---|
| Other names | Juvenile pilocytic astrocytoma or Cystic cerebellar astrocytoma |
| Micrograph of a pilocytic astrocytoma, showing characteristic bipolar cells with long pilocytic (hair-like) processes. Smear preparation. H&E stain. | |
| Specialty | Neuro-oncology, neurosurgery |
| Symptoms | lack of appropriate weight gain/ weight loss headaches nausea vomiting irritability torticollis difficulty to coordinate movements |
| Usual onset | First 20 years of life |
| Diagnostic method | MRI, CT scan |
Pilocytic astrocytoma (and its variant pilomyxoid astrocytoma) is a brain tumor that occurs most commonly in children and young adults (in the first 20 years of life). They usually arise in the cerebellum, near the brainstem, in the hypothalamic region, or the optic chiasm, but they may occur in any area where astrocytes are present, including the cerebral hemispheres and the spinal cord. These tumors are usually slow growing and benign, corresponding to WHO malignancy grade 1.