Clinico-pathological analysis of pilocytic astrocytomas and gangliogliomas

A pathological analysis of 58 pilocytic astrocytomas (PA) and 11 gangliogliomas (GG) was performed using immunohistochemistry. Antibodies against neuronal and glial markers (GFAP, SYN, NFP) were used. An analysis of survivors using the Kaplan Meier curve was also performed and compared with the literature reports. During the retrospective review of 58 cases recognized primarily as PA, 11 verified neoplasms demonstrated strong, immunopositive reaction for SYN or NFP or both antibodies. These cases were reclassified as gangliogliomas (GG). None of the 11 tumors recognized as GG was reclassified as PA. The overall 5-year survival was 88.89% in the PA and 70% in GG groups.