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The brain and spinal column make up the central nervous system (CNS),
where all vital functions of the body, including thought, speech, and
strength, are controlled.
Astrocytoma is a type of CNS tumor
that forms in cells called astrocytes. Normal astrocytes provide the
connecting network of the brain and spinal cord and form scar tissue
when the CNS is damaged. Astrocytoma begins when normal astrocytes
change and grow uncontrollably, forming a mass called a tumor.
Astrocytoma can occur throughout the CNS, including in the following places:
- Cerebellum (the back part of the brain responsible for coordination and balance)
- Cerebrum (the top part of the brain that controls motor activities and talking)
- Diencephalon or central part of the brain (controls vision, hormone production, and arm and leg movement)
- Brain stem (controls eye and facial movements, arm and leg movement, and breathing)
- Spinal cord (controls sensation and arm and leg motor function)
A tumor can be benign (noncancerous) or malignant (cancerous,
meaning it can spread to other parts of the body). Astrocytoma is more
commonly referred to by its grade (a measure of how much the tumor cells
appear like normal cells), as either high grade or low grade, depending
on the number and shape of the tumor cells and how quickly they grow
and spread. A low-grade tumor is less likely to grow quickly or spread.
Once a tumor is found in the CNS, the doctor will usually perform a
biopsy (see Diagnosis) to
see if the tumor is an astrocytoma and to determine the grade of the
tumor. A biopsy is the removal of a small amount of tissue for
examination under a microscope.
This section covers astrocytoma diagnosed in children; learn more about brain tumors in adults
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