Cerebellar Pilomyxoid Astrocytoma

Abstract

Pilomyxoid astrocytomas (PMA) are new class of Pilocytic Astrocytoma (PA.), which typically have their origin in hypothalamus and Chiasmatic region. There are very few case reports of PMAs arising from cerebellum. Their imaging features are similar to PA but they behave more aggressively than PA. To increase awareness of PMA within the neurosurgical community, the authors reviewed a case of 11-year-old male child who presented with truncal and cerebellar ataxia and vomiting and right cerebellar tumor diagnosed as PA radiologically but PMA on histopathology examination. These findings indicate that PMA may be a unique entity that is distinct from PA, or it may be an unusual variant.

Key words: -Pilocytic astrocytoma • pilomyxoid astrocytoma • diagnosis • cerebellar