Acute deterioration in pleomorphic xanthoastrocytoma in a child

Abstract

Pleomorphic Xanthoastrocytoma (PXA) occur in less than 1 % of cases and usually present in the second decade. They present with seizures, focal deficits, intratumoral bleed and rarely with malignant transformation. The few cases that have been reported with acute deterioration in PXA have been secondary to intratumoral bleed. We present a case of PXA in a child that deteriorated secondary to high intracranial pressure which was managed successfully.