Presentation
The pilocytic (astrocytoma) variant of ONG almost always presents during the first two decades of life. In this report, the authors discuss an unusual presentation of pilocytic astrocytoma of the juvenile type in an elderly Indian male. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
Presentation depends on location. In the posterior fossa tumors, there is predominantly a mass effect with signs of raised intracranial pressure, especially when hydrocephalus is present. Bulbar symptoms or cerebellar symptoms may also be present. [radiopaedia.org]
Entire Body System
- Weakness
We present the case of a 2-year-old boy with progressive left-sided weakness and a cranial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan showing a lesion with a cystic component in the right thalamus and basal ganglia. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
An anaplastic astrocytoma can produce symptoms such as weakness, unsteady walking and a loss of sensation. Glioblastoma multiforme (Grade IV) : This is the most malignant type of astrocytoma. It grows rapidly, increasing pressure in the brain. [hopkinsmedicine.org]
Symptoms General symptoms include: Headaches Weakness on one side of the body Problems with balance Seizures Behavior, memory and personality changes Pilocytic Astrocytoma Treatment Because pilocytic astrocytoma tumors do not spread to surrouding cells [uwhealth.org]
[…] the skin; burning, itching, swelling, hardening, and tightening of the skin; yellow spots on the whites of the eyes; joint stiffness with trouble moving or straightening the arms, hands, legs, or feet; pain deep in the hip bones or ribs; and muscle weakness [emedicine.com]
Tumours arising in the thalamic region (centre of the brain) can cause headaches and arm and leg weakness. [rch.org.au]
- Developmental Delay
Together these data support a role for NTM and OPCML in developmental delay and potentially in cancer susceptibility. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
- Pallor
Pilocytic astrocytoma of the optic pathway frequently produces visual loss or visual-field deficit, with optic disk pallor and optic nerve atrophy in the involved eye secondary to axonal damage and ischemia (,3,,21,,30). [pubs.rsna.org]
Respiratoric
- Dyspnea
During admission, he had acute dyspnea with desaturation but no chest pain at ten days after admission. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
Gastrointestinal
- Vomiting
Herein, we report a seventeen-year-old boy with a history of ventriculo-peritoneal shunt insertion due to severe hydrocephalus who presented with progressive headache and vomiting together with ocular and cerebellar signs and symptoms. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
- Nausea
An 18-year-old girl presented with a history of visual disturbance without headache, nausea, or vomiting in May 2010. In July 2010, the patient visited our hospital because of visual disturbance. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
Changes in personality or mental status Difficulty balancing Drowsiness Headaches Nausea Problems with vision Seizures Vomiting Pediatric Pilocytic Astrocytoma Doctors and Providers [childrens.com]
Eyes
- Diplopia
A 36-year-old man presented with a one-month history of diplopia of sudden onset, fluctuating on and off with spontaneous remisson. Two weeks prior to hospital admission, he developed mild bitemporal headaches and dizziness. [em-consulte.com]
He underwent a partial tumor resection with persistent diplopia postoperatively. Pathology was consistent with a pilocytic astrocytoma with atypical features and detection of KIAA1549-BRAF fusion. [futuremedicine.com]
Case Report A 16-year-old male adolescent was presented to the neurosurgery ward on May 31, 2011, with headache for 2 weeks ago and diplopia for the last week. Vertigo and occasional nausea and vomiting were present. [ccij-online.org]
In some cases, a JPA may also be associated with seizures, vision problems such as blurred vision or double vision (diplopia), gradual changes in behavior or mood, and weakness of the arms and legs resulting in coordination difficulties. [rarediseases.org]
Headache, vomiting, gait disturbance, blurred vision, diplopia, and neck pain are common symptoms in patients with a cerebellar pilocytic astrocytoma (,22–,24). [pubs.rsna.org]
- Strabismus
J Pediatr Ophthalmol Strabismus. 2009 Jul-Aug;46(4):235-7. doi: 10.3928/01913913-20090706-12. Epub 2009 Mar 20. PubMed PMID: 19645405. 64: Schuettpelz LG, McDonald S, Whitesell K, Desruisseau DM, Grange DK, Gurnett CA, Wilson DB. [neurocirugiacontemporanea.com]
- Visual Impairment
Such children may have little in the way of other neurologic findings, but can have macrocephaly, intermittent lethargy, and visual impairment.[ 3 ] Diagnostic Evaluation The diagnostic evaluation for astrocytoma is often limited to a magnetic resonance [cancer.gov]
Neurologic
- Headache
Herein, we report a seventeen-year-old boy with a history of ventriculo-peritoneal shunt insertion due to severe hydrocephalus who presented with progressive headache and vomiting together with ocular and cerebellar signs and symptoms. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
After 5 years, at the age of 21, the patient readmitted with anxiety and headache and the recurrence of the same tumor with the same grade. [ccij-online.org]
- Seizure
The patient has since remained seizure-free for 2.5 years. Seizure outcomes at postoperative 1-2 years are highly predictive of long-term outcomes after TLR for temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE). [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
- Irritability
Besides previously postulated hypotheses of viral-induced or angiogenic factor-induced glial growth, we hypothesize that neoplastic origins of hypothalamic-optochiasmatic glioma might be due to the irritative mechanisms resulting from the frequent bleeds [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
This type of tumor can often be cured with surgery.[1][2][3] Last updated: 8/9/2013 People with pilocytic astrocytomas might experience symptoms including: headaches, nausea, vomiting, irritability, ataxia (uncoordinated movement or unsteady gait), and [rarediseases.info.nih.gov]
- Nystagmus
We report the case of a 6-month-old female child with IP who presented with unilateral nystagmus and was found to have a pilocytic astrocytoma with leptomeningeal spread. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
Depending on the primary localization and the size of the tumor, patients can present with signs of raised intracranial pressure (headache, vomiting, papilledema), blurred vision, decreased visual acuity, ataxia and/or nystagmus, among others. [orpha.net]
A JPA in the optic nerve pathways may be associated with loss of vision, degeneration (atrophy) of the optic nerve, papilledema, nystagmus, and protrusion of the eyeball (proptosis). [rarediseases.org]
A tumor pressing on the optic nerve may cause vision changes, such as blurry vision or involuntary rapid eye movements, or nystagmus. [healthline.com]
- Papilledema
Depending on the primary localization and the size of the tumor, patients can present with signs of raised intracranial pressure (headache, vomiting, papilledema), blurred vision, decreased visual acuity, ataxia and/or nystagmus, among others. [orpha.net]
Papilledema common Favorable prognosis both in terms of survival and neurologic function Most remain stable after resection (gross or subtotal) only, and need no adjuvant RT with close follow-up It may be reasonable to offer RT in unresectable disease [en.wikibooks.org]
A JPA in the optic nerve pathways may be associated with loss of vision, degeneration (atrophy) of the optic nerve, papilledema, nystagmus, and protrusion of the eyeball (proptosis). [rarediseases.org]
Lethargy Alterations in mental conditions Blockage in the brainstem causing: Nausea Vomitting Ataxia – the inability to coordinate movements Torticollis – Wryneck Problems with balance and coordination Blockage in the optic nerve pathways resulting to: Papilledema [cancerwall.com]
Neurologic examination revealed bilateral papilledema and positive cerebellar signs. [neurologyindia.com]
Workup
Recognition of this variant may prevent an unnecessary workup to exclude other etiologies such as parasitic infection (ie, cysticercosis) or cystic metastatic disease. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
Roonprapunt and Abbot have suggested a treatment algorithm for the initial surgical workup of brain stem gliomas. [31] Figure 3: A seemingly diffuse infiltrative non-enhancing mid brain lesion on the CT scan is seen as a focal lesion on MRI scan Click [pediatricneurosciences.com]
Treatment
Reports of infections mimicking CNS metastatic disease are also rare and can impact treatment. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
To date, there are no prospective studies evaluating the use of such treatments in APA, however. Due to the low incidence of the tumor, the authors say, future studies are warranted to further assess efficacy of bevacizumab treatment in APA. [centerforbiosimilars.com]
He underwent treatment with concurrent radiation and TMZ. [futuremedicine.com]
Steroid treatment is often used to control tissue swelling that may occur pre- and post-operatively. Children can also suffer long term side effects due to the type of treatment they may receive. [en.wikipedia.org]
Prognosis
However, the worse prognosis is related to the clinical behavior, with life-threatening complications often associated. Surgery remains the standard treatment and will influence the final prognosis. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
They are considered WHO grade I tumors in the current (2016) WHO classification of CNS tumors and correspondingly have a relatively good prognosis. [radiopaedia.org]
Prognosis A prognosis is an estimate of the likely progress of a disease after a diagnosis, based on an average patient group. [braintumour.ca]
Etiology
Recognition of this variant may prevent an unnecessary workup to exclude other etiologies such as parasitic infection (ie, cysticercosis) or cystic metastatic disease. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
Epidemiology
The remaining eight chapters have a common format, reviewing the history, epidemiology, biology, pathology, clinical symptoms, differential diagnosis, treatment, prognosis, and complications of specific tumors. [books.google.com]
Epidemiology Pilocytic astrocytoma typically occurs in the first two decades of life. See Pilocytic Astrocytoma in adults. Localization Pilocytic astrocytoma may occur throughout the neuraxis. [prod.wiki.cns.org]
Our model analysis shows that the tumor behavior after partial resection is essentially determined by a risk coefficient γ, which can be deduced from epidemiological data about PA. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
Pathophysiology
Pathophysiology In PAD, the thrombosis involves only major deep venous channels of the extremity, thus sparing collateral veins. The venous drainage is decreased but still present; the lack of cyanosis differentiates this entity from PCD. [emedicine.medscape.com]
Acute deep venous thrombosis: pathophysiology and natural history. In: Cronenwett JL, Johnston KW eds. Rutherford’s Vascular Surgery 1, 8th ed. Philadelphia: Elsevier, 2014: 745-9. 6) Chinsakchai K, ten Duis K, Moll FL, et al. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
Prevention
Recognition of this variant may prevent an unnecessary workup to exclude other etiologies such as parasitic infection (ie, cysticercosis) or cystic metastatic disease. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
But there is no way to prevent them, and there’s nothing you can do to reduce a child’s risk of developing one. [weillcornellbrainandspine.org]
If they saw clear-cut evidence of tumor growth, they would need to intervene to prevent potentially debilitating symptoms. Brain surgery in the future remained a distinct possibility for Travis. [upmc.com]