Astrocytoma, Diagnosis and Treatment. Literature Review

Abstract

Most primary CNS tumors are astrocytic tumors. Glial tumors are classified according to histological criteria. The WHO classification for primary malignant gliomas in adults includes grades II through IV. Terms for tumors that classify in grade II are astrocytomas (A), oligodendrogliomas (ODG), or mixed gliomas (GM). Grade III tumors are named similarly, and preceded by the word anaplastic, for example, anaplastic astrocytoma (AA), anaplastic oligodendroglioma (ODGA), or mixed anaplastic glioma (GAM). The most malignant form, the grade IV tumor, is designated glioblastoma or GBM. GBMs are diagnosed more frequently than lower grade astrocytomas. The recent GBM classifications reflect the genetic aspects involved in the tumor and have prognostic value. The most important prognostic factor in malignant gliomas is the histopathological diagnosis of the tumor. The survival of patients with AA is much higher than that of patients with glioblastoma. Other important factors that are associated with the survival of patients with malignant gliomas are the age of the patients, Karnofsky scale, surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy. There is evidence suggesting an association between younger patients and longer survival in adults with supratentorial AA and glioblastoma