Unraveling the Mysterious Pilocytic Astrocytoma : Cardinal Epidemiological Features Rummage

Rami , Alqroom; Qamar , Malabeh; Al Wakfi , Ola; Al-Zoubi , Mohamad; Al Dalahmeh , Ala; Feras , Haddad; Basel , Younes; Khasawneh , Nidal; Al Shurbaji , Amer

doi:10.12816/0054818

Article Details

Unraveling the Mysterious Pilocytic Astrocytoma : Cardinal Epidemiological Features Rummage

Authors:

Rami , Alqroom | Qamar , Malabeh | Al Wakfi , Ola | Al-Zoubi , Mohamad | Al Dalahmeh , Ala | Feras , Haddad | Basel , Younes | Khasawneh , Nidal | Al Shurbaji , Amer

Publisher:

Jordanian Medical services - Jordanian Armed Forces

Main Topics:

Medicine

Journal:

Journal of the Royal Medical Services 2019 Vol.26 Issue 3, pp.57-65

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

12/2019

Document Language:

English

Document ID (Org No.):

137798

Frequency:

Quarterly

eISSN:

20788711

pISSN:

20788703

DOI:

10.12816/0054818

Descriptors:

Keywords:

Abstract:

 Introduction: Pilocytic astrocytoma is classified as grade I glioma by the (WHO), and although it remains one of the most frequent oncological pathologies located in posterior fossa, it is an intriguing and unpredictable entity. Pilocytic astrocytomas might be identified supratentorially or in the optic pathway. The close vicinity of these lesions to the brainstem and fourth ventricle zone explains the hazardous presentation of these patients. Large multi-institutional reports illustrating the epidemiology of pilocytic astrocytoma surgery especially in developing countries are lacking.
Objectives: The current research is supplementary to other published works, and it aimed to use a retrospectively collected data registry of surgically treated patients to primarily delineate the relative frequencies of pilocytic astrocytomas. Special emphasis was devoted to analyzing the cardinal epidemiological features and major concurrent issues.
Methods & Patients: This retrospective review data in the Institutional patient database for all patients who underwent surgical intervention in the Department of Neurosurgery at a single referral center – King Hussein Medical Center-over an 18-year period from January 2000 to December 2018 were scrutinized. Clinical records, as well as computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) reports, surgical notes, follow up records , and histopathological reports were obtained from all indexing systems that are used, and the data were analyzed for all patients. Patients within the age range of 1 to 37 years were included in the study.
Results: There were 102-patients in this study; 53 were females and 49 were males (male-to-female ratio of 1:1.1). The mean age was 12.01 years. Topographically, the posterior fossa was the most common region where pilocytic astrocytomas are found, followed by 13 in the supra-sellar region. The most common clinical presentation of pilocytic astrocytoma was a marked increased intracranial pressure. There was cranial nerves involvement in 2.94% of cases. Symptomatic hydrocephalus was evident in 39-patients as the primary presentation. Endocrinological disturbances were manifested in seven Patients. Visual difficulties were identified in six patients. Nine patients showed lesion recurrence and underwent a second surgery and one patient showed a second recurrence with transformation to a grade III tumor. The general complication rate in our study was 21.56 %. Overall, no mortality was correlated to pilocytic astrocytoma.
Conclusions: Pilocytic astrocytoma data from our analysis revealed: a slight female predominance and younger age and presentation in our patients in addition to an insidious clinical demonstration with marked increased intracranial pressure. The largest proportion of pilocytic astocytomas located in the posterior fossa. Treatment options have improved the survival rate, and recurrence rates are very low because of a feasible gross total excision.

Article Details

Unraveling the Mysterious Pilocytic Astrocytoma : Cardinal Epidemiological Features Rummage

Authors:

Rami , Alqroom | Qamar , Malabeh | Al Wakfi , Ola | Al-Zoubi , Mohamad | Al Dalahmeh , Ala | Feras , Haddad | Basel , Younes | Khasawneh , Nidal | Al Shurbaji , Amer

Publisher:

Jordanian Medical services - Jordanian Armed Forces

Main Topics:

Medicine

Journal:

Journal of the Royal Medical Services 2019 Vol.26 Issue 3, pp.57-65

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

12/2019

Document Language:

English

Document ID (Org No.):

137798

Frequency:

Quarterly

eISSN:

20788711

pISSN:

20788703

DOI:

10.12816/0054818

Descriptors:

ASTROCYTES

NEOPLASMS

DISEASE SURVEYS

EPIDEMIOLOGY

PATIENTS

Pilocytic Astrocytoma

Grade I

Posterior Fossa Tumor

Hydrocephalus

Endoscopic Third Ventriculostomy

Issues

Article Details

Authors: Rami , Alqroom | Qamar , Malabeh | Al Wakfi , Ola | Al-Zoubi , Mohamad | Al Dalahmeh , Ala | Feras , Haddad | Basel , Younes | Khasawneh , Nidal | Al Shurbaji , Amer

Publisher: Jordanian Medical services - Jordanian Armed Forces

Main Topics: Medicine

Journal: Journal of the Royal Medical Services 2019 Vol.26 Issue 3, pp.57-65

Document Type: Article

Publication Date: 12/2019

Document Language: English

Document ID (Org No.): 137798

Frequency: Quarterly

eISSN: 20788711

pISSN: 20788703

DOI: 10.12816/0054818

Descriptors:

Issues

Authors:

Rami , Alqroom | Qamar , Malabeh | Al Wakfi , Ola | Al-Zoubi , Mohamad | Al Dalahmeh , Ala | Feras , Haddad | Basel , Younes | Khasawneh , Nidal | Al Shurbaji , Amer

Publisher:

Jordanian Medical services - Jordanian Armed Forces

Main Topics:

Medicine

Journal:

Journal of the Royal Medical Services 2019 Vol.26 Issue 3, pp.57-65

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

12/2019

Document Language:

English

Document ID (Org No.):

137798

Frequency:

Quarterly

eISSN:

20788711

pISSN:

20788703

DOI:

10.12816/0054818