Astrocytoma (patient information)
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Astrocytoma |
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Astrocytoma On the Web |
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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. Astrocytes can support and nourish neurons and help repair the damage when the brain is injured. Astrocytoma occupies 30% of brain tumors.
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. Sometimes astrocytoma may spread along the cerebrospinal fluid pathways, but rare spread outside of the brain or spinal cord.
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, cowden syndrome.
Diagnosis
Head magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the best way for diagnosis.
When to seek urgent medical care?
- This section should focus on the symptoms that may indicate impending life threatening situations, or significant worsening.
- For an example of a section detailing this on a patient information page, click here
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.
Where to find medical care for astrocytoma?
Directions to Hospitals Treating astrocytoma
What to expect (Outlook/Prognosis)?
Prognosis depends on the grade of the cancer.