PMID: 9430149Jan 16, 1998Paper

A case of infantile anaplastic astrocytoma treated with surgery and chemotherapy

No shinkei geka. Neurological surgery
M SainoK Sato

Abstract

A 5-month-old girl presented with enlargement of the head circumference. Neurological examination revealed right hemiparesis and bulging of the anterior fontanel. T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging with gadolinium DTPA showed a well-enhanced, huge tumor extending from the left frontal lobe to the parietal lobe. Cerebral angiography showed the main feeding arteries were the central sulcus artery and the posterior parietal artery. The tumor was totally removed using a sulcotomy and temporary clipping of these feeding arteries to control bleeding. The histological diagnosis was anaplastic astrocytoma. Postoperative radiation therapy was avoided so as to prevent the side effect of radiation therapy such as mental retardation and growth impairment. Chemotherapy using VP-16 and CDDP was given every six months as adjunct therapy. No tumor recurrence has been recognized for over a period of 2 years and 5 months after surgery and growth and mental development have been satisfactory. Total removal using great care not to damage neurological function followed by postoperative chemotherapy is the treatment of preference to obtain good prognosis and quality of survival in infant with such tumors.

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