What is a juvenile pilocytic astrocytoma?
Pilocytic astrocytomas are cystic brain tumors. Pilocytic astrocytoma of juvenile astrocytoma concerns this type of brain tumor when it is in a child. In children under the age of 12, they are considered more frequent. These tumors usually affect the optical nerve and cerebellum. Children who have juvenile pilocytic astrocytoma generally have an excellent chance of recovering if they receive rapid treatment.
Juvenile pilocytic astrocytoma belongs to the brain tumor category known as the primary gliom. Gliomas are cells in the brain that affect the central nervous system. They represent the vast majority of all brain tumors found in children and adults. Glioma tumors are usually malignant, but are not a type of cancer.
children suffering from juvenile pilocyte astrocytomas can show a wide range of symptoms, depending on where the tumor is located in the brain. Tumors in or around or around it would usually cause problems with vision, head pain, and bulge around the eyes.Tumors in the brain can cause vomiting, dizziness and equilibrium disorders. In some cases, children could have more serious symptoms such as epileptic seizures, memory loss and mood swings.
Once the child is found to have a youthful pilocytic astrocytoma, there are generally two methods of treatment. The most common treatment is surgery to remove the tumor. Sometimes the tumor can be placed in the brain area that makes it difficult or the risk of surgery. In these cases, radiation therapy is usually used. Operations and radiation are usually successful in eliminating youthful pilocyte astrocytoma.
If the tumor is very small, it can pose any serious or immediate threat, and the child's doctor may decide not to treat the tumor at all. In these cases, the tumor and the child's overall health would be carefully monitored. If the TD network began to show serious symptoms or ifwould be recorded changes in the size or density of the tumor, usually treatment would be started.
The prognosis for complete recovery from a youthful pilocyte astrocytoma is usually very good, but in some cases children could be seriously disturbed. If the tumor remains undiscovered or if treatment is delayed, blindness, paralysis or even death may occur. Most doctors agree that more research is needed to allow them to diagnose and treat juvenile pilocytic astrocytoma better. It is believed that medical research is limited because most of the financing is devoted to the study of cancerous tumors.