Astrocytoma (patient information): Difference between revisions
No edit summary |
|||
| Line 6: | Line 6: | ||
==Overview== | ==Overview== | ||
Astrocytoma is a type of [[glioma]] that origins from astrocytes which support and nourish the [[neuron]]s and help repair the damage when the brain is injured. Astrocytoma occupies 30% of brain | Astrocytoma is a type of [[glioma]] that origins from [[astrocytes]] which support and nourish the [[neuron]]s and help repair the damage when the [[brain]] is injured. Astrocytoma occupies 30% of [[brain]] [[tumor]]s. People with family history and [[radiation]] exposure are more prone to astrocytoma. Astrocytoma can cause various neurological symptoms such as [[headache]], [[nausea]] and [[vomiting]], [[seizure]], [[hydrocephalus]], [[weakness]], or [[numbness]] in the extremities, [[blurred vision]], balance problems, personality or behavior changes, [[seizures]], [[drowsiness]] or even [[coma]] and patients are advised to seek urgent medical care for these symptoms. Imaging studies are the best diagnostic modality and [[chemotherapy]], [[radiation]] and [[surgery]] are used to treat the disease. The [[prognosis]] depends on the staging of the disease. | ||
==What are the symptoms of astrocytoma?== | ==What are the symptoms of astrocytoma?== | ||
| Line 13: | Line 13: | ||
==What causes astrocytoma?== | ==What causes astrocytoma?== | ||
Radiation causing genetic mutation is suspected to be the cause of astrocytoma. | [[Radiation]] causing genetic mutation is suspected to be the cause of astrocytoma. | ||
==Who is at highest risk?== | ==Who is at highest risk?== | ||
| Line 22: | Line 22: | ||
==When to seek urgent medical care?== | ==When to seek urgent medical care?== | ||
* Call a health care provider if a child develops | * Call a health care provider if a child develops [[headache]]s that do not go away or other symptoms of a [[brain]] tumor. | ||
* Go to the emergency room if a child develops any of the following: | * Go to the emergency room if a child develops any of the following: | ||
:* Physical weakness | :* Physical weakness | ||
:* Change in behavior | :* Change in behavior | ||
:* Vomiting | :* [[Vomiting]] | ||
:* Drowsiness | :* [[Drowsiness]] | ||
:* Severe headache of unknown cause | :* Severe [[headache]] of unknown cause | ||
:* Seizure of unknown cause | :* [[Seizure]] of unknown cause | ||
:* Vision changes | :* [[Vision]] changes | ||
:* Speech changes | :* [[Speech]] changes | ||
==Treatment options== | ==Treatment options== | ||
Treatments include surgery, [[radiation therapy]], [[chemotherapy]], gene therapy, or a combination of them. Because most [[astrocytomas]] can spread widely throughout the normal brain tissue, it may be very hard to remove by surgery. If you have completed treatment, your doctors will still want to watch you closely. It’s very important to keep all follow-up appointments. During these visits, your doctors will ask about symptoms, examine you, and may order lab tests or imaging tests such as MRI scans to look for a recurrence of the tumor. In some cases, some of the tumor may still be left behind after treatment. Once you have recovered from treatment, your doctors will try to determine if damage was done to the brain or other areas. Several types of doctors and other health professionals might help you recover from the after effects of the disease. | Treatments include [[surgery]], [[radiation therapy]], [[chemotherapy]], [[gene therapy]], or a combination of them. Because most [[astrocytomas]] can spread widely throughout the normal [[brain]] tissue, it may be very hard to remove by [[surgery]]. If you have completed treatment, your doctors will still want to watch you closely. It’s very important to keep all follow-up appointments. During these visits, your doctors will ask about symptoms, examine you, and may order lab tests or imaging tests such as [[MRI]] scans to look for a recurrence of the tumor. In some cases, some of the tumor may still be left behind after treatment. Once you have recovered from treatment, your doctors will try to determine if damage was done to the [[brain]] or other areas. Several types of doctors and other health professionals might help you recover from the after effects of the disease. | ||
==Where to find medical care for astrocytoma?== | ==Where to find medical care for astrocytoma?== | ||
| Line 42: | Line 42: | ||
==What to expect (Outlook/Prognosis)?== | ==What to expect (Outlook/Prognosis)?== | ||
* The prognosis (chance of recovery) and treatment options depend on the following: | * The prognosis (chance of recovery) and treatment options depend on the following: | ||
:* Where the astrocytoma formed in the CNS and if it has spread. | :* Where the astrocytoma formed in the [[CNS]] and if it has spread. | ||
:* Whether cancer cells remain after surgery. | :* Whether [[cancer]] cells remain after [[surgery]]. | ||
:* The type and grade of astrocytoma. | :* The type and grade of astrocytoma. | ||
:* Whether the child has NF1. | :* Whether the child has [[NF1]]. | ||
:* Whether there are certain changes in the genes. | :* Whether there are certain changes in the [[genes]]. | ||
:* The child’s age. | :* The child’s age. | ||
:* Whether the astrocytoma has just been diagnosed or has recurred (come back). | :* Whether the astrocytoma has just been diagnosed or has recurred (come back). | ||
Revision as of 10:26, 20 August 2015
For the WikiDoc page for this topic, click here
|
Astrocytoma |
|
Astrocytoma On the Web |
|---|
Editor-in-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S.,M.D. [1] Phone:617-632-7753; Associate Editor-In-Chief: Jinhui Wu, M.D.
Overview
Astrocytoma is a type of glioma that origins from astrocytes which support and nourish the neurons and help repair the damage when the brain is injured. Astrocytoma occupies 30% of brain tumors. People with family history and radiation exposure are more prone to astrocytoma. Astrocytoma can cause various neurological symptoms such as headache, nausea and vomiting, seizure, hydrocephalus, weakness, or numbness in the extremities, blurred vision, balance problems, personality or behavior changes, seizures, drowsiness or even coma and patients are advised to seek urgent medical care for these symptoms. Imaging studies are the best diagnostic modality and chemotherapy, radiation and surgery are used to treat the disease. The prognosis depends on the staging of the disease.
What are the symptoms of astrocytoma?
Usual symptoms include headache, nausea and vomiting, seizure, hydrocephalus, weakness, or numbness in the extremities, blurred vision balance problems, personality or behavior changes, seizures, drowsiness or even coma.
What causes astrocytoma?
Radiation causing genetic mutation is suspected to be the cause of astrocytoma.
Who is at highest risk?
People with radiation exposure, family history of neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1), neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2), tuberous sclerosis, Von Hippel-Lindau disease, Li-Fraumeni syndrome, gorlin syndrome, turcot syndrome and cowden syndrome.
Diagnosis
Along with a thorough history and physical examination, imaging studies such as head magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT) scan, positron emission tomography (PET) scan, chest x-ray and angiogram are used for the diagnosis of astrocytoma. Blood and urine tests, lumbar puncture (spinal tap), surgical or open biopsy (craniotomy) are also conducted.
When to seek urgent medical care?
- Call a health care provider if a child develops headaches that do not go away or other symptoms of a brain tumor.
- Go to the emergency room if a child develops any of the following:
Treatment options
Treatments include surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, gene therapy, or a combination of them. Because most astrocytomas can spread widely throughout the normal brain tissue, it may be very hard to remove by surgery. If you have completed treatment, your doctors will still want to watch you closely. It’s very important to keep all follow-up appointments. During these visits, your doctors will ask about symptoms, examine you, and may order lab tests or imaging tests such as MRI scans to look for a recurrence of the tumor. In some cases, some of the tumor may still be left behind after treatment. Once you have recovered from treatment, your doctors will try to determine if damage was done to the brain or other areas. Several types of doctors and other health professionals might help you recover from the after effects of the disease.
Where to find medical care for astrocytoma?
Directions to Hospitals Treating astrocytoma
What to expect (Outlook/Prognosis)?
- The prognosis (chance of recovery) and treatment options depend on the following:
- Where the astrocytoma formed in the CNS and if it has spread.
- Whether cancer cells remain after surgery.
- The type and grade of astrocytoma.
- Whether the child has NF1.
- Whether there are certain changes in the genes.
- The child’s age.
- Whether the astrocytoma has just been diagnosed or has recurred (come back).
- For recurrent astrocytoma, prognosis and treatment depend on how much time passed from the time treatment ended to the time the astrocytoma recurred.