title: Diffuse central nervous system protoplasmic astrocytoma.
abstract: Protoplasmic astrocytoma is an extremely rare form of grade II low grade glioma which usually presents as a discrete mass lesion. We describe a 3-year-old female with diffuse protoplasmic astrocytoma with parenchymal involvement and leptomeningeal spread. This tumour proved extremely difficult to diagnose and followed a progressive course. Three superficial biopsies did not give the diagnosis and this was only confirmed 8 months from presentation from a larger fourth biopsy taken deeper from the cerebellum. To our knowledge this case represents the distinct presentation of protoplasmic astrocytoma presenting as extensive diffuse meningeal disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatric Oncology, Alder Hey Childrens' NHS Foundation Trust, Liverpool, UK. sue.manley@alderhey.nhs.uk
authors.forename: Sue
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Manley
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Crooks
authors.forename: Libby
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Artingstall
authors.forename: Neil
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Buxton
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Appleton
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Riordan
authors.forename: Gavin
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cleary
authors.forename: Barry
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Pizer
mesh_terms: D001254:Astrocytoma / Q000473:pathology*; D002528:Cerebellar Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D057210:Delayed Diagnosis; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004830:Epilepsy, Tonic-Clonic / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008577:Meningeal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D010784:Photomicrography; D014390:Tuberculosis, Meningeal / Q000175:diagnosis