Pediatric anaplastic astrocytoma

What is pediatric anaplastic astrocytoma?

Anaplastic astrocytomas start in astrocytes, brain cells that help your central nervous system do tasks like store energy and support neurons. Anaplastic astrocytomas are part of a group of tumors called high-grade gliomas. High-grade gliomas typically grow and spread faster than other types of brain tumors.

Risk factors

These tumors can affect kids of any age but are most common in kids between eight and 18.

What are the signs and symptoms of a pediatric anaplastic astrocytoma?

The usual symptoms of a child with an anaplastic astrocytoma include progressively worsening headaches, nausea, vomiting, seizures and personality changes.

Other signs and symptoms include:

• Drowsiness

• Weakness in the arms and legs

• Speech problems

• Memory problems

How is a pediatric anaplastic astrocytoma diagnosed?

• MRI - First, your child will have an MRI. This test takes detailed pictures of your child’s brain and helps us figure out what’s causing their symptoms. MRI’s show us if your child has a tumor, and if so, where it is located and how big it is.

• Biopsy - If we find a tumor, we’ll take a sample of it called a biopsy. Biopsies allow us to see what type of tumor your child has and whether or not it is cancerous.

• DNA - We also use a tool called next-generation sequencing for many of our patients. This allows us to examine the tumor’s DNA. Some tumors’ DNA can be targeted with certain types of drugs, so knowing the exact genetic makeup of your child’s tumor helps us choose the best treatment.

What causes a pediatric anaplastic astrocytoma?

We don't know why children get anaplastic astrocytoma. Scientists have found some correlations between certain genes and these tumors, but they’re still doing research to learn more.

How is pediatric anaplastic astrocytoma treated?

Surgery

Our team of neurosurgeons works together to plan each child’s surgery. They use the most advanced imaging tools to find out exactly where the tumor is and plan the best way to remove it.

There are two goals of surgery:

• Remove as much tumor as is safely possible

• Get tissue to accurately make a diagnosis

Radiation

Using high-energy rays to target brain tumors. Our doctors use many different types of radiation and will work together to pick the best option for your child. We often use proton therapy, a very precise type of radiation that targets tumors and doesn’t harm surrounding tissues. We may also use stereotactic radiosurgery. With it we can pinpoint the exact right spot to give radiation and use higher doses and fewer treatments.

Chemotherapy

A family of medicines that shrink and kill tumors. Children’s Health is home to a team that specializes in using chemotherapy to treat brain tumors in kids. They’ve helped many kids like yours beat brain tumors and work to make sure treatments have as few side effects as possible.