Stereotactic biopsy of low-grade giant-cell astrocytoma

Stereotactic biopsy was used to sample a hypodense lesion of the left temporo-occipital lobes in a 32-year-old female with a history of grand mal seizures. Although the intraoperative cytologic examination showed a picture suggestive of malignancy, including giant cells and atypical mitotic figures, the clinical and radiologic history militated against a malignant nature for the lesion, which was thus classified as a low-grade giant-cell astrocytoma. This case emphasizes both the utility of intraoperative cytologic examination of stereotactic biopsy specimens and the need to consider the cytologic and histologic evidence in light of the clinical and radiologic findings.