CLINICOPATHOLOGICAL STUDY OF CEREBELLAR ASTROCYTOMA: REPORT OF THIRTY CASES

AIMS: Cerebellar astrocytoma occurs more often in children and young adults than in adults. They are the most common astrocytic tumours in children, accounting for 80-85% of cerebellar astrocytomas and 60% of optic gliomas. They comprise about 33% of all posterior fossa tumours in children and represent about 25% of all paediatric tumours. The aim of this study was to study the clinicopathological features and analyze the clinical outcome, complications and prognosis of total or subtotal excision of cerebellar astrocytomas. METHODS AND MATERIAL: In the present study, the sex distribution was male predominance: 17 patients were male and 13 were female. The age at diagnosis varied from 4 years to 28 years. 84% of the patients were below 20 years of age. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: Histopathological examinations showed low grade astrocytoma and two cases had malignant tumors which were pilocytic and non pilocytic. Reccurence and mortality in the present study showed that 1 patient had recurrence. Out of 30 cases, 2 patients expired (6%). The cause of death was brain stem dysfunction probably due to brainstem infiltration. In conclusion, the present study may be of importance to clinicians to establish the correct diagnosis and proper therapy about cerebellar astrocytomas.