children s health issues
Astrocytomas
Diagnosis of Astrocytomas
Magnetic resonance imaging Biopsy Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) (MRI) is usually done. Before MRI is done, a Then doctors usually take a sample of tissue from the tumor and examine it under a microscope (biopsy) because treatment is based on how abnormal the tumor cells look (the tumor’s grade). Astrocytomas are typically classified as low grade (for example, pilocytic astrocytoma) or high grade (for example, anaplastic astrocytoma). Grades 1 and 2 tumors are low grade, and grades 3 and 4 tumors are high grade. 