Pilocytic astrocytoma with extensive psammomatous calcification in the lateral ventricle: a case report

Abstract

Pilocytic astrocytomas (PA) are approximately 5–6% of all gliomas [1]. They are the most common glioma in children, and the majority (67%) arise in the cerebellum [9]. Calcification is an infrequent finding and is only rarely seen in the optic nerve or hypothalamic/thalamic tumors or in superficially located cerebral tumors [12]. Although calcification usually appears in benign or slow-growing tumors, the mechanism remains unclear. Commonly, calcified brain tumors include oligodendrogliomas, low-grade astrocytomas, craniopharyngiomas, meningiomas, pineal gland tumors, and ependymomas [8]. Intraventricular tumors that can show calcification include ependymomas, choroid plexus tumors, central neurocytomas, and metastatic tumors. We describe an unusual case of a child with an intraventricular PA with extensive psammomatous calcification.