title: The use of chemotherapy to facilitate surgical resection in pleomorphic xanthoastrocytoma: experience in a single case.
abstract: The use of noncytotoxic chemotherapy as an adjuvant treatment to permit resection of a pleomorphic xanthoastrocytoma (PXA) is described. A 6-year-old girl with a large right occipito-temporo-parietal lesion presented with signs and symptoms of raised intracranial pressure. An initial attempt at resection was halted because of excessive blood loss, and tumour embolisation was not feasible as no suitable vascular pedicle was identified. Two cycles of vincristine and carboplatin were given, and these decreased the vascularity of the tumour allowing subsequent complete macroscopic resection 9 weeks later. The use of chemotherapy to decrease the vascularity of the tumour by way of its antiangiogenic effects is discussed.
authors.affiliation: Nottingham Children's Brain Tumour Research Centre, University of Nottingham, UK. mariacartmill@doctors.org.uk
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cartmill
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hewitt
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Walker
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lowe
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Jaspan
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Punt
mesh_terms: D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001254:Astrocytoma / Q000098:blood supply / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000601:surgery; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000601:surgery; D016190:Carboplatin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D020360:Neoadjuvant Therapy; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014750:Vincristine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects
chemical_list: D014750:Vincristine; D016190:Carboplatin