pediatrics
Astrocytomas
Introduction
Astrocytomas are central nervous system tumors that develop from astrocytes. Diagnosis is based on MRI. Treatment is a combination of surgical resection and chemotherapy. Radiation therapy is rarely used to treat low-grade tumors but is commonly used to treat high-grade tumors. Astrocytes are star-shaped glial cells that form a large portion of the brain parenchyma and serve various functions depending on their location in the central nervous system. Astrocytomas range from low-grade indolent tumors (the most prevalent) to malignant high-grade tumors. As a group, astrocytomas are the most common Overview of Central Nervous System Tumors in Children , representing approximately 40% of pediatric central nervous system tumors ( Despite similarities in appearance, astrocytomas in children and adults have different biological backgrounds with different molecular findings, leading to differences in clinical features such as where the tumors arise, how they are treated, and overall outcomes ( References , 