Congenital Astrocytoma Research Articles

Congenital anaplastic astrocytoma differentiated into pilocytic astrocytoma: An autopsy case

We report an autopsy case of congenital astrocytoma and its histopathological changes during 5 years of the patient's development from birth to death. At birth, a right exophthalmic tumor was observed, and MRI revealed that the tumor occupied the right orbital space and had also affected the suprasellar diencephalic structures. The right orbital tumor, which was enucleated at 2 months of age, was a highly cellular tumor with moderate pleomorphism resembling anaplastic astrocytoma. On the other hand, at autopsy, a brain tumor was found in the right diencephalic region with features of pilocytic astrocytoma, accompanied by leptomeningeal dissemination. A biopsy specimen, which was obtained from the chiasmatic part of the tumor at 4 months of age, showed an intermediate appearance between the orbital tumor and the brain tumor obtained at autopsy. Immunohistochemical examination confirmed that all three phases of the tumors showed an astrocytic lineage, and the Ki-67 labeling index decreased rapidly after 2 months of age. We believe that this congenital anaplastic astrocytoma differentiated into a pilocytic astrocytoma during the 5 years of the patient's development. The transformation of the congenital astrocytoma from anaplastic to pilocytic forms can be attributed to the nature of the tumor, namely postmitotic neoplastic cells are characterized by their ability to undergo self-differentiation, along with the organotropism of the developing brain.

Prenatal diagnosis of a congenital astrocytoma: a case report and literature review

Congenital intracranial tumors are very rare. We report an endovaginal ultrasonographic diagnosis of an anaplastic astrocytoma at 31 weeks' gestation. Other means, such as antenatal magnetic resonance imaging and fetal blood sampling were not shown to have any diagnostic advantage. A detailed literature review of the topic is provided.

Congenital Astrocytoma in the Cervical Spinal Cord

Sir .—A 1-month-old male infant with quadriplegia and apneic spells was found to have congenital astrocytoma in the cervical spinal cord, as defined by magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomographic metrizamide myelography. He underwent subtotal resection of the tumor at 85 days of age. Quadriparesis and apneic spells remained unchanged for the next 20 months. Congenital intracranial neoplasms are estimated to account for 1.5% of all childhood brain tumors. To our knowledge, primary congenital tumors arising within the spinal cord have not been reported in the neonatal period. We describe a child with congenital astrocytoma arising in the cervical spinal cord. Patient Report .—On July 16, 1987, a term male infant was delivered vaginally and weighed 3990 g. He was discharged with his mother at 6 days of age, and remained well until 1 month of age, when he developed fever and cough 2 days prior to admission. On the

Congenital astrocytoma presenting with intracerebral hematoma

A massive left intracerebral hematoma was surgically evacuated from a 2-week-old infant. Pathological examination showed that the hemorrhage had developed within a fibrillary astrocytoma. Neonatal intracerebral hemorrhage should raise the question of congenital tumor because such a hemorrhage in this age group is rarely the result of trauma, bleeding diathesis, or vascular malformation.