title: Dissemination patterns of pilocytic astrocytoma.
abstract: Two patients with multifocal pilocytic astrocytoma diagnosed by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and confirmed by histopathological examination are reported. They presented distinct sites and mechanisms of metastasis: to distant ventricles through the cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) in patient 1 and to contralateral parenchyma, possibly through white matter tracts, in patient 2, a pathway not so far reported in pilocytic astrocytoma. Early detection of multifocal pilocytic astrocytoma by MRI may change treatment strategies and improve prognosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, State University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Caixa Postal 6111, Cidade Universitária, Campinas SP, CEP 13083-970, Brazil. andreia@fcm.unicamp.br
authors.forename: Andréia V
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Faria
authors.forename: Geovani C A
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Azevedo
authors.forename: Verônica A
authors.initials: VA
authors.lastname: Zanardi
authors.forename: Enrico
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ghizoni
authors.forename: Luciano S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Queiroz
mesh_terms: D001254:Astrocytoma / Q000556:secondary*; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged