title: Arrested growth and spontaneous tumor regression of partially resected low-grade cerebellar astrocytomas in children.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The prognosis of children with low-grade cerebellar astrocytoma who have partial resection of tumor is largely unpredictable. The purpose of this study was to review the long-term outcome of such patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  The medical charts, imaging findings, operative notes, histopathological reports, and survival times of 12 patients with cerebellar astrocytoma were reviewed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Five patients had total resection and seven had partial resection. Nine patients had grade I histology and three patients had grade II. Follow-up duration ranged from 3 to 25 years. Among the seven patients with residual tumor, five had tumor progression, one had arrested tumor growth, and one had spontaneous tumor regression. Five patients with partial resection received radiotherapy and three had malignant transformation of tumor during follow-up. Six patients, including five who had partial resection, underwent a second operation. One patient with partial resection died of pneumonia 23 years after surgery.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients with complete tumor resection had a better prognosis than patients with partial resection. For patients with partial resection, we recommend a "wait and see" policy with surveillance using MRI. The phenomenon of arrested tumor growth and spontaneous tumor regression in patients with cerebellar astrocytoma who have subtotal resection warrants further study.
authors: Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, No 100 Tzyou 1 Rood, Kaohsiung, 807, Taiwan.
authors: Joon-Khim
authors: JK
authors: Loh
authors: Ann-Shung
authors: AS
authors: Lieu
authors: Chee-Yin
authors: CY
authors: Chai
authors: Shiuh-Lin
authors: SL
authors: Hwang
authors: Aij-Lie
authors: AL
authors: Kwan
authors: Chih-Jen
authors: CJ
authors: Wang
authors: Shen-Long
authors: SL
authors: Howng
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001254:Astrocytoma / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D002528:Cerebellar Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D060787:Neoplasm Grading; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D018365:Neoplasm, Residual / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D019635:Neurosurgical Procedures / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D011379:Prognosis; D012086:Reoperation; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
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