Pilomyxoid astrocytoma: a review.

Pilomyxoid astrocytoma (PMA) is a recently described type of brain tumor. PMA shares similar features with pilocytic astrocytoma (PA), the most common central nervous system (CNS) tumor in the pediatric population, yet displays subtle histologic differences. Previous studies have shown PMA to behave more aggressively than PA, with shorter progression-free and overall survival as well as a higher rate of recurrence and CNS dissemination. These findings suggest that PMA may be a unique and distinct neoplasm. This review summarizes the histologic, clinical, and radiographic characteristics of PMA. In addition, the current treatment options and research endeavors involving this disease are described. Increased recognition of PMA within the medical community has the potential to affect the treatment and prognosis of pediatric low-grade astrocytomas.

[1]  A. Olivi,et al.  Pilocytic and Pilomyxoid Hypothalamic/Chiasmatic Astrocytomas , 2004, Neurosurgery.

[2]  I. Pollack.  The Role of Surgery in Pediatric Gliomas , 1999, Journal of Neuro-Oncology.

[3]  R. Oberbauer,et al.  Synchronous radiochemotherapy in unfavorable brain tumors of children and young adults , 1998, Journal of Neuro-Oncology.

[4]  J. Loeffler,et al.  Recent trends in the radiotherapy of pediatric gliomas , 1996, Journal of Neuro-Oncology.

[5]  Paul S Mischel,et al.  Gene expression profiling identifies molecular subtypes of gliomas , 2003, Oncogene.

[6]  A. Broniscer,et al.  Pediatric glial tumors , 2001, Current treatment options in oncology.

[7]  A. Goel,et al.  Prognostic Factors for Cerebellar Astrocytomas in Children: A Study of 102 Cases , 2001, Pediatric Neurosurgery.

[8]  B. Fisher,et al.  Results of a policy of surveillance alone after surgical management of pediatric low grade gliomas. , 2001, International journal of radiation oncology, biology, physics.

[9]  S. Tang-Aroonsin.  Glioma of the central nervous system: factors affecting the outcome. , 2001, Journal of the Medical Association of Thailand = Chotmaihet thangphaet.

[10]  B. Rilliet,et al.  Gliomas in children: a review , 2000, Child's Nervous System.

[11]  Emanuel Petricoin,et al.  Molecular profiling of human cancer , 2000, Nature Reviews Genetics.

[12]  H. Friedman,et al.  A detrimental effect of a combined chemotherapy-radiotherapy approach in children with diffuse intrinsic brain stem gliomas? , 2000, International journal of radiation oncology, biology, physics.

[13]  Jeffrey C. Allen,et al.  Initial Management of Children with Hypothalamic and Thalamic Tumors and the Modifying Role of Neurofibromatosis-1 , 2000, Pediatric Neurosurgery.

[14]  B. Fisher,et al.  Pretreatment factors predict overall survival for patients with low-grade glioma: a recursive partitioning analysis. , 1999, International journal of radiation oncology, biology, physics.

[15]  J. Wisoff,et al.  The impact of extent of resection in the management of malignant gliomas of childhood , 1999, Child's Nervous System.

[16]  P. Burger,et al.  Pediatric astrocytomas with monomorphous pilomyxoid features and a less favorable outcome. , 1999, Journal of neuropathology and experimental neurology.

[17]  M. Berger,et al.  Current neurosurgical management and the impact of the extent of resection in the treatment of malignant gliomas of childhood: a report of the Children's Cancer Group trial no. CCG-945. , 1998, Journal of neurosurgery.

[18]  R. Packer,et al.  Pediatric central nervous system tumors. , 1998, Current opinion in oncology.

[19]  J. Langston,et al.  Low-grade astrocytoma: a decade of experience at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. , 1997, Journal of clinical oncology : official journal of the American Society of Clinical Oncology.

[20]  G. Basso,et al.  Diencephalic syndrome and disseminated juvenile pilocytic astrocytomas of the hypothalamic‐optic chiasm region , 1997, Cancer.

[21]  M. Hermes,et al.  [Computed tomographic and magnetic resonance tomographic findings in pilocytic astrocytoma]. , 1997, RoFo : Fortschritte auf dem Gebiete der Rontgenstrahlen und der Nuklearmedizin.

[22]  P. Kelly,et al.  Pilocytic astrocytomas: well-demarcated magnetic resonance appearance despite frequent infiltration histologically. , 1995, Mayo Clinic proceedings.

[23]  J. Langston,et al.  Low-grade astrocytoma with neuraxis dissemination at diagnosis. , 1995, Journal of neurosurgery.

[24]  I. Pollack,et al.  Low-grade gliomas of the cerebral hemispheres in children: an analysis of 71 cases. , 1995, Journal of neurosurgery.

[25]  M. Prados,et al.  Treatment options and prognosis for multicentric juvenile pilocytic astrocytoma. , 1994, Journal of neurosurgery.

[26]  M E Cohen,et al.  Postoperative chemotherapy and delayed radiation in children less than three years of age with malignant brain tumors. , 1993, The New England journal of medicine.

[27]  W. J. Oakes,et al.  Chemotherapy for pilocytic astrocytomas , 1993, Cancer.

[28]  H. Rekate,et al.  Low-grade astrocytomas of childhood. , 1991, Neurologic clinics.

[29]  J. Bruner,et al.  Juvenile pilocytic astrocytomas: CT and MR characteristics. , 1989, AJR. American journal of roentgenology.

[30]  K. Wallner,et al.  Treatment results of juvenile pilocytic astrocytoma. , 1988, Journal of neurosurgery.

[31]  P. Mckeever,et al.  Cerebral pilocytic astrocytoma , 1985, Cancer.

[32]  G. Dohrmann,et al.  Central nervous system tumors in children cns tumors in children , 1977, Cancer.