Cerebellar astrocytomas

Abstract

The term cerebellar astrocytoma typically refers to the WHO grade I lesion within the cerebellum known also as a cerebellar pilocytic astrocytoma or cerebellar juvenile pilocytic astrocytoma (JPA). However, cerebellar astrocytomas may be fibrillary instead of pilocytic or may show more malignant histological characteristics. Although pilocytic astrocytomas may occur throughout the brain or spinal cord, they mainly occur in the posterior fossa, particularly in the cerebellum, and those occurring in the cerebellum tend to be cystic with a mural nodule. Currently, brain tumors are the most common solid organ cancer of the pediatric population. Approximately 10-15% of all pediatric brain tumors and over 25% of posterior fossa tumors in children will be identified as a cerebellar JPA [15, 18]. Aggressive, safe surgical resection is the mainstay of therapy, both at initial diagnosis and in the event of recurrence. Adjuvant chemotherapy or radiation is rarely used for patients with progressive unresectable tumors, but does play a role in therapy for malignant tumors. © 2010 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.