Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSymptomsCausesDiagnosisTreatmentPrognosis
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Symptoms
Causes
Diagnosis
Treatment
Prognosis
Pilocytic astrocytoma (PA) is a slow-growing central nervous system tumor that originates from star-shaped cells in the brain and spinal cord calledastrocytes. It is the most common pediatric tumor. It mainly occurs in young people under the age of 19.
The most common initial symptoms are headache, nausea, andseizure. PA generally has a good prognosis. Early treatment ensures that the tumor does not invade or press on surrounding tissues and cause permanent damage.
This article discusses the symptoms, causes, diagnosis, and treatment of PA.
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Pilocytic Astrocytoma Symptoms
The exact cause of juvenile pilocytic astrocytomas is unknown, but they are more commonly associated with such genetic disorders as:
A diagnosis of pilocytic astrocytoma begins with a review of symptoms and your or your child’s medical history. Next, your healthcare provider (commonly apediatricianor pediatricneurologist) will perform a focused physical exam, checking how well the cranial nerves and reflexes function. Next, the provider may order the following tests to confirm or rule out a pilocytic astrocytoma diagnosis:
Standard treatment is surgical resection of the tumor. The goal of surgery is to remove as much of the tumor as possible. The 10-year survival rate is approximately 95% if completely resected.
For completely removed tumors, a maximum of three-year surveillance imaging is recommended due to the minimal risk of recurrence.
Your individual outlook depends on a number of factors, including:
The 10-year survival rate is approximately 95% if completely resected.
Summary
Pilocytic astrocytoma (PA) is a slow-growing, highly curable central nervous system tumor, most commonly seen in children, that originates from star-shaped cells in the brain and spinal cord called astrocytes.
A Word From Verywell
PA is a highly curable brain tumor that mainly develops in children. The signs of PA may be subtle at first and only begin to affect your or your child’s quality of life when the tumors are large in size or pressing on vital tissues. Knowing the early signs and symptoms of PA ensures that you get timely treatment. Surgery alone usually leads to the resolution of your symptoms.
4 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Collins VP, Jones DT, Giannini C.Pilocytic astrocytoma: pathology, molecular mechanisms and markers.Acta Neuropathol. 2015 Jun;129(6):775-88. doi:10.1007/s00401-015-1410-7. Epub 2015 Mar 20.American Association of Neurological Surgeons.Astrocytomas tumors.Moffitt Cancer Center.Astrocytoma Diagnosis.Knight J, De Jesus O.Pilocytic astrocytoma. In: StatPearls. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2022 Jan-.
4 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Collins VP, Jones DT, Giannini C.Pilocytic astrocytoma: pathology, molecular mechanisms and markers.Acta Neuropathol. 2015 Jun;129(6):775-88. doi:10.1007/s00401-015-1410-7. Epub 2015 Mar 20.American Association of Neurological Surgeons.Astrocytomas tumors.Moffitt Cancer Center.Astrocytoma Diagnosis.Knight J, De Jesus O.Pilocytic astrocytoma. In: StatPearls. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2022 Jan-.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Collins VP, Jones DT, Giannini C.Pilocytic astrocytoma: pathology, molecular mechanisms and markers.Acta Neuropathol. 2015 Jun;129(6):775-88. doi:10.1007/s00401-015-1410-7. Epub 2015 Mar 20.American Association of Neurological Surgeons.Astrocytomas tumors.Moffitt Cancer Center.Astrocytoma Diagnosis.Knight J, De Jesus O.Pilocytic astrocytoma. In: StatPearls. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2022 Jan-.
Collins VP, Jones DT, Giannini C.Pilocytic astrocytoma: pathology, molecular mechanisms and markers.Acta Neuropathol. 2015 Jun;129(6):775-88. doi:10.1007/s00401-015-1410-7. Epub 2015 Mar 20.
American Association of Neurological Surgeons.Astrocytomas tumors.
Moffitt Cancer Center.Astrocytoma Diagnosis.
Knight J, De Jesus O.Pilocytic astrocytoma. In: StatPearls. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2022 Jan-.
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