Pilocytic Astrocytoma
What is it?
Represents a neoplasm of the posterior cranial fossa that usually occurs in the first decade of life.
Which are the symptoms?
Cystic lesion with a solid nodule at the periphery that intensely absorbs contrast media, is located mostly in the cerebellar hemisphere and can be quite large (5-6 cm) is revealed during the neuroradiologic examination.
How is it treated?
A surgical intervention is performed. If surgical removal is radical, the prognosis is excellent with the possibility of recovery in more than 90% of cases. Radical removal is confirmed by early postoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain.
If, during surgery, removal was incomplete, or in rare cases of distant recurrence, the first treatment option is reoperation.
In case of repeated relapse, the patient is referred to pediatric neurooncologists for chemotherapy and radiation therapy.
After surgery, the patient should have control MRI scans of the brain every six months for the first two years, then annually for another 5-6 years, and finally, every three years.
Suggested procedures
Where do we treat it?
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