Fact Sheet on Pilocytic Astrocytoma in the Adult (PDF file) from the National Brain Tumor Foundation.
A pilocytic astrocytoma is a slow growing astrocytoma. It is considered a benign tumor because typically it does not invade the brain tissue.
In children, pilocytic astrocytomas are most often located in the cerebellum but in adults they may be located elsewhere such as in the cerebral cortex or brainstem .
Gross total resection was associated with a delay in tumor progression and malignant degeneration as well as improved overall survival independent of age, degree of disability, histological subtype, or revision versus primary resection.
Neurosurgery. 2008 Oct;63(4):700-7
Brain Stem Pilocytic Astrocytoma Statistics (PDF file)
Significantly lower survival was found in those 20+ years at diagnosis compared to
those <20 years at diagnosis.
The five year survival for Brain Stem Pilocytic Astrocytoma diagnosed at less than 20 years of age was 95%.
The five year survival for Brain Stem Pilocytic Astrocytoma diagnosed at 20 or more years of age was 80%.
This brain tumor is classified a WHO Grade I Astrocytoma which rarely transforms into to a malignant high-grade tumor.
An article about chemotherapy in children with pilocytic astrocytoma brain tumor.
Responsiveness of progressive optic pathway tumors to cisplatin-based chemotherapy in children
Childs Nerv Syst. 2008 Sep 4.
Though the pathology of optic pathway tumor is mostly pilocytic astrocytoma, the benign tumor behaves like malignant tumor because total resection is not feasible…CONCLUSION: Cisplatin-based chemotherapy is an effective regimen for control of progressive optic pathway tumors.
Juvenile Pilocytic Astrocytoma -emedicine.
Juvenile pilocytic astrocytomas occur more often in children and young adults. They are the most common astrocytic tumors in children, accounting for 80-85% of cerebellar astrocytomas and 60% of optic gliomas…
Radiation tolerance limits of the brainstem.
Exposure of the brainstem to more than 12 Gy at volumes as low as 0.1 cm can produce adverse radiation imaging effects and new neurological deficits.
Neurosurgery. 2008 Oct;63(4):728-32; discussion 732-3.
Clinicopathologic study of pilocytic astrocytoma
Pilocytic Astrocytoma is a benign, WHO grade I tumor with favorable prognosis, and does not require radiotherapy after total resection. The tumor can be mistaken as higher-grade astrocytoma when involving the subarachnoid space, and with cytological atypia, leading to unnecessary radiotherapy after surgery. Recurrence rate is increased when only partial resection is achieved. The outcome for patients with brainstem tumor or anaplastic Pilocytic Astrocytoma is poor.
Zhonghua Bing Li Xue Za Zhi. 2008 Sep;37(9):609-14.