Leptomeningeal dissemination of pilocytic astrocytoma at diagnosis in childhood: two cases report.
Pilocytic astrocytoma (PA) is a benign tumor that rarely spread along the neuraxis. At the moment there are no more than five cases of leptomeningeal dissemination (LD) from PA at diagnosis described in the literature. Different patterns of presentation or recurrence may be noted: local recurrence, malignant transformation, multicentric disease or metastatic disease. LD and multicentric disease can be distinct pathological entities. We report two cases and analyse literature, emphasizing leptomeningeal spread at presentation. Hydrocephalus, biopsy and parcial ressection are likely to be favorable factors to the occurrence of LD. Otherwise, LD may be part of natural history of PA, as evidenced by its ocurrence in non-treated cases.
Neurosurgery Division, School Of Medicine, Clinics Hospital, São Paulo University, São Paulo, SP, Brazil. abergadelha@msn.com
Eberval Gadelha
EG
Figueiredo
Hamilton
H
Matushita
André Guelman G
AG
Machado
José Píndaro P
JP
Plese
Sérgio
S
Rosemberg
Raul
R
Marino
D001254:Astrocytoma / Q000556:secondary* / Q000628:therapy; D002528:Cerebellar Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D002648:Child; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006849:Hydrocephalus / Q000473:pathology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008577:Meningeal Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary* / Q000628:therapy; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000473:pathology; D013346:Subarachnoid Space / Q000473:pathology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed