ABSTRACT
Astrocytoma (or astrocytic tumor) represents a diverse group of brain tumors that arises from astrocytes in the central nervous system (CNS). Clinical symptoms of astrocytoma include headache; nausea; diplopia; dysphasia; ataxia; hemiparesis; lethargy; change in personality or behavior; unusual weight loss or gain; increase in the size of the head; and seizures. Diagnosis of astrocytomas involves medical history review, physical examination, radiographic imaging, histological evaluation, immunohistochemical staining, and molecular tests. Anaplastic astrocytoma is a malignant tumor that represents an intermediate stage in the progression of diffuse astrocytoma to glioblastoma. PA (also known as juvenile pilocytic astrocytoma) is a benign, slow-growing tumor that typically arises in the cerebellum, hypothalamus and third ventricular region in children and teens. The current treatment options for astrocytoma include surgery, observation, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, stem cell transplant, and targeted therapy. Low-grade astrocytoma portends a relatively favorable prognosis, although young patients with fibrillary histology, diencephalic syndrome, and intracranial hypertension at initial presentation have a poor prognosis.
