title: Holocord pilocytic astrocytoma--case report and review of the literature.
abstract: Intramedullary glial neoplasms affecting the entire cord from the cervicomedullary junction to the conus are termed "holocord tumors" and those diagnosed as pilocytic astrocytoma are rare. Herein, we present a 13-year-old girl with a tumor extending from the cervicomedullary junction to the conus which was partially resected in a four-stage approach. Histopathological examination of all specimens resulted in diagnosis of a pilocytic astrocytoma. Although no signs of atypia were present, an elevated proliferative activity of endothelial vessels was noted. Residual parts of the tumor showed progress making additional surgery necessary. Therapy and its consequences are discussed and an overview of the literature of these rare longitudinally extensive intramedullary lesions is given.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Brain Research, University of Tübingen, Calwerstr. 3, D-72076 Tübingen, Germany. jens.schittenhelm@med.uni-tuebingen.de
authors.forename: Jens
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Schittenhelm
authors.forename: Florian H
authors.initials: FH
authors.lastname: Ebner
authors.forename: Marcos
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tatagiba
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wolff
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nägele
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Meyermann
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mittelbronn
mesh_terms: D001254:Astrocytoma / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D001706:Biopsy / Q000379:methods; D002648:Child; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000473:pathology*; D013120:Spinal Cord Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome