Malignant transformation of benign cerebellar astrocytoma.
A patient who had a well-differentiated cerebellar astrocytoma resected at 4 years of age, had glioblastoma multiforme of the cerebellum after a symptom-free interval of 28 years. Late malignant transformation of a cerebellar astrocytoma of childhood is rare and previous cases are reviewed. Cerebellar astrocytomas are typically among the most benign of primary brain malignancies with excellent long-term survival rates, sometimes with incomplete resection. This patient indicates that follow-up needs to be long-term because biologic behavior cannot be predicted fully in all cases.
Medical College of Virginia, Virginia Commonwealth University, Department of Pathology, Richmond.
A M
AM
Schwartz
N R
NR
Ghatak
D001254:Astrocytoma / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic; D002528:Cerebellar Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local