Definition: Neoplasms of the brain and spinal cord derived from glial cells which vary from histologically benign forms to highly anaplastic and malignant tumors. Fibrillary astrocytomas are the most common type and may be classified in order of increasing malignancy (grades I through IV). In the first two decades of life, astrocytomas tend to originate in the cerebellar hemispheres; in adults, they most frequently arise in the cerebrum and frequently undergo malignant transformation. (From Devita et al., Cancer: Principles and Practice of Oncology, 5th ed, pp2013-7; Holland et al., Cancer Medicine, 3d ed, p1082)
coord IM with precoord CNS/neopl term (IM) + site (IM); Grades I-III go here, with pathol; for ASTROCYTOMA, GRADE IV see GLIOBLASTOMA; for SUBEPENDYMAL ASTROCYTOMA see GLIOMA, SUBEPENDYMAL; for MIXED OLIGODENDROGLIOMA-ASTROCYTOMA see OLIGODENDROGLIOMA
ExamplesGlioblastoma; Optic Nerve Glioma; Pontine Glioma
Other names Oligoastrocytoma, Mixed; Glioma, Astrocytic; Astrocytoma, Subependymal Giant Cell; Protoplasmic Astrocytomas; Protoplasmic Astrocytoma; Pilocytic Astrocytomas, Juvenile; Pilocytic Astrocytomas; Pilocytic Astrocytoma, Juvenile; Oligoastrocytomas, Mixed; Mixed Oligoastrocytomas; Mixed Oligoastrocytoma; Juvenile Pilocytic Astrocytomas; Intracranial Astrocytomas; Grade III Astrocytomas; Grade III Astrocytoma; Grade II Astrocytomas; Grade II Astrocytoma; Grade I Astrocytomas; Grade I Astrocytoma; Gliomas, Astrocytic
