Prognosis of benign cerebellar astrocytomas in children

Between 1954 and 1975, in the Children's Department of our Institute, 137 patients under the age of 14 were treated for cerebellar astrocytoma. Histological re-examination--in accordance with Gjerris and Klinken--showed that only 128 cases could be included into the group of benign cerebellar astrocytomas. The short follow-up period in one part of our material does not allow the establishment of significant differences between the so-called 'juvenile' and 'diffuse' type of astrocytomas. From our investigations, it seems that the only significant factor in the recurrences and in the survival time is the involvement of the brain stem. This involvement is more frequent in the diffuse type. However, we could find long-term survivors in both histological groups.