Cerebellar pilocytic astrocytoma epidemiology

Cerebellar pilocytic astrocytomas (CPA) account for approximately 30% of all pediatric central nervous system tumors and thus, constitute the second-largest pediatric brain tumor group after medulloblastomas (MB) 1) 2) 3).

One of the more common pediatric brain tumors (≈ 15% of primary brain tumors in patients <19 years 4) comprising 27–40% of pediatric posterior fossa tumors 5) 6).

They may also occur in adults, where the mean age is lower and the postoperative survival is longer than for fibrillary astrocytomas 7).

1)
Aarsen FK, Paquier PF, Arts WF, Van Veelen ML, Michiels E, Lequin M, Catsman-Berrevoets CE.. Cognitive deficits and predictors 3 years after diagnosis of a pilocytic astrocytoma in childhood. J Clin Oncol. 2009;27(21):3526–32.
2)
Beebe DW, Ris MD, Armstrong FD, Fontanesi J, Mulhern R, Holmes E, Wisoff JH.. Cognitive and adaptive outcome in low-grade paediatric cerebellar astrocytomas: evidence of diminished cognitive and adaptive functioning in National Collaborative Research Studies. J Clin Oncol. 2005;23(22):5198–204.
3)
Hayostek CJ, Shaw EG, Scheithauer B, O’Fallon JR, Weiland TL, Schomberg PJ, Kelly PJ, Hu TC. Astrocytomas of the cerebellum. A Comparative Clinicopathologic Study of Pilocytic and Diffuse Astrocytomas. Cancer. 1993;72(3):856–69.
4)
Burkhard C, Di Patre PL, Schuler D, et al. A population-based study of the incidence and survival rates in patients with pilocytic astrocytoma. J Neurosurg. 2003; 98:1170–1174
5)
Section of Pediatric Neurosurgery of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons. Pediatric Neurosurgery. New York 1982
6)
Youmans JR. Neurological Surgery. Philadelphia 1990
7)
Ringertz N, Nordenstam H. Cerebellar Astrocytoma. J Neuropathol Exp Neurol. 1951; 10:343–367