Adult Pilocytic Astrocytomas: A Brazilian Series
Gabriela Boschetti1, Adrialdo Jose Santos2, Kellen Paiva Fermon2
1Department of Neurosurgery, Neuro-oncology Service, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil; School of Medicine Deparment, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Paraná, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil; Medical School Department, Faculdades Pequeno Príncipe, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil.
World Neurosurgery
|September 25, 2019
Summary
This study presents the first Brazilian adult pilocytic astrocytoma (PA) series, showing favorable outcomes. Adult PA cases are rare, with temporal lobe tumors being common and resection extent being key for prognosis.
Area of Science:
- Neuro-oncology
- Neurosurgery
- Pathology
Background:
- Pilocytic astrocytoma (PA) is a rare primary central nervous system tumor, accounting for 5.1% of adult cases.
- Understanding adult PA characteristics is crucial for diagnosis and treatment planning.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe the initial Brazilian cohort of adult patients diagnosed with pilocytic astrocytoma.
- To compare the clinical and pathological features of this cohort with existing global literature.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of adult patients (≥18 years) with PA from 1991 to 2018.
- Analysis included clinical presentation, tumor location, imaging, surgical resection extent, adjuvant therapy, and follow-up data.
Main Results:
- Twenty-three adult patients were analyzed; 60.9% were male, with a median age of 26 years.
- Headache and seizures were the most common symptoms; temporal and parietal lobes were frequent locations.
- Gross total resection was achieved in 40.9% of cases, with only 4 patients experiencing disease progression.
Conclusions:
- This series represents the first Brazilian adult PA cohort, demonstrating outcomes consistent with favorable literature reports.
- Supratentorial tumors, particularly in the temporal lobe, are more prevalent in adults.
- While location showed no significant link to progression, extent of resection remains the primary prognostic indicator.
