Astrocytoma pathophysiology
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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]
Pathogenesis
Well-differentiated astrocytomas constitute about 25 to 30% of cerebral gliomas. They have a predilection for the cerebrum, cerebellum, hypothalamus, pons, and optic nerve and chiasm. Although astrocytomas have many different histological characteristics, the most common type is the well-differentiated fibrillary astrocytoma. These tumors express glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), which possibly functions as a tumor suppressor[1], and is a useful diagnostic marker in a tissue biopsy. [2]
Grading
Astrocytomas have great variation in their presentation. The World Health Organization acknowledges the following grading system for astrocytomas:
- Grade 1 — pilocytic astrocytoma - primarily pediatric tumor, with median age at diagnosis of 12
- Grade 2 — diffuse astrocytoma
- Grade 3 — anaplastic (malignant) astrocytoma
- Grade 4 — glioblastoma multiforme (most common)
In addition to these four tumor grades, astrocytomas may combine with oligodendrocytes to produce oligoastrocytoma. Unique astrocytoma variants have also been known to exist.
References
- ↑ M Toda; et al. (1994). "Cell growth suppression of astrocytoma C6 cells by glial fibrillary acidic protein cDNA transfection". Journal of Neurochemistry. 63 (5): 1975–1978. PMID 7931355.
- ↑ JHN Deck; et al. (1978). "The role of glial fibrillary acidic protein in the diagnosis of central nervous system tumors". Acta Neuropathologica. Springer Berlin / Heidelberg. 42 (3): 183–190. doi:10.1007/BF00690355.