PILOCYTIC ASTROCYTOMA

Course overview

PILOCYTIC ASTROCYTOMA IS THE MOST COMMON CHILDHOOD BRAIN TUMOR AND MOST OFTEN FOUND IN THE POSTERIOR FOSSA. COMPLETE RESECTION USUALLY CURES THE PATIENT; HOWEVER, THE PATIENT CAN PRESENT WITH BRAINSTEM COMPRESSION AND HYDROCEPHALUS, WHICH ARE BOTH POTENTIALLY LIFE-THREATENING. THEREFORE, IT IS ESSENTIAL TO ACHIEVE EARLY DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT. THIS ACTIVITY REVIEWS THE EVALUATION AND TREATMENT OF PILOCYTIC ASTROCYTOMA AND HIGHLIGHTS THE ROLE OF THE INTERPROFESSIONAL TEAM IN THE CARE OF PATIENTS WITH THIS CONDITION.