Merck Manual

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Astrocytomas

By

Kee Kiat Yeo

, MD, Harvard Medical School

Reviewed/Revised May 2023
VIEW PROFESSIONAL VERSION

The central nervous system is made up of the brain and spinal cord. Astrocytomas are central nervous system tumors that develop from star-shaped cells (astrocytes) that help nerve cells in the brain or spinal cord function. These tumors may be cancerous (malignant) or not.

  • The cause of astrocytomas is not known.

  • Children may have difficulty walking, weakness, vision changes, vomiting, and headaches.

  • Diagnosis usually involves an imaging test and a biopsy.

  • Treatment options include surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy.

Symptoms of Astrocytomas

Pressure within the skull increases, causing headaches (often when children first awaken), vomiting, and listlessness. Children may lose their coordination and have difficulty walking. Vision may be blurred or lost, and the eyes may bulge. The child may have nystagmus, in which the eyes involuntarily jerk in one direction, then drift back.

Astrocytomas in the spinal cord may cause back pain, difficulty walking, numbness, and muscle weakness.

Diagnosis of Astrocytomas

  • Magnetic resonance imaging

  • Biopsy

Then doctors usually take a sample of tissue from the tumor and examine it under a microscope (biopsy) because treatment is based on how abnormal the tumor cells look (the tumor’s grade). Astrocytomas are typically classified as low grade (for example, pilocytic astrocytoma) or high grade (for example, anaplastic astrocytoma). Grades 1 and 2 tumors are low grade, and grades 3 and 4 tumors are high grade.

Treatment of Astrocytomas

  • Surgery (if possible)

  • Radiation therapy, chemotherapy, or both

Radiation therapy is rarely used to treat low-grade astrocytomas because it can interfere with growth and brain development.

Most low-grade astrocytomas can be treated successfully, and children can be long-term survivors.

The outlook is worse for children with a high-grade tumor, in whom the overall survival is only 20 to 30% 3 years after treatment.

More Information

The following English-language resource may be useful. Please note that THE MANUAL is not responsible for the content of this resource.

  • American Cancer Society: If Your Child Is Diagnosed With Cancer: A resource for parents and loved ones of a child who has cancer that provides information about how to cope with some of the problems and questions that come up just after a child is diagnosed

NOTE: This is the Consumer Version. DOCTORS: VIEW PROFESSIONAL VERSION
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