title: Spontaneous regression of low-grade astrocytomas in childhood.
abstract: An 8-year-old boy with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) and a biopsy-proven juvenile pilocytic astrocytoma of the hypothalamic/chiasmatic region was followed with serial MRIs over 4 years. Spontaneous tumor regression was followed by progression and biopsy; 6 months later, the tumor regressed again. This bimodal regression is rare, but highlights the variable natural history of low-grade gliomas in children with NF1 and the difficulty in evaluating response of such tumors to therapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, The George Washington University, Washington, D.C., USA.
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Schmandt
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Packer
authors.forename: L G
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Vezina
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jane
mesh_terms: D001254:Astrocytoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D001706:Biopsy; D002552:Cerebral Ventricles / Q000473:pathology; D002648:Child; D018450:Disease Progression; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007029:Hypothalamic Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D007031:Hypothalamus / Q000473:pathology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D009365:Neoplasm Regression, Spontaneous; D009456:Neurofibromatosis 1 / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D009897:Optic Chiasm / Q000473:pathology; D020339:Optic Nerve Glioma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology