Astrocytoma history and symptoms
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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Ammu Susheela, M.D. [2]
Overview
A positive finding of headaches, seizures, change in personality or behavior are suggestive of astrocytoma. Symptoms of astrocytoma depend on the location, size, age and the rate of growth of the tumor.
Symptoms
- Symptoms depend on the following:[1]
- Location of the tumor in the brain or spinal cord
- Size of the tumor
- How fast the tumor grows
- The child's age and development
- Some tumors do not cause symptoms. The most common symptoms of astrocytoma are:
- Morning headache or headache that goes away after vomiting
- Nausea and vomiting
- Vision, hearing, and speech problems
- Loss of balance and trouble walking
- Worsening handwriting or slow speech
- Weakness or change in feeling on one side of the body
- Unusual sleepiness
- More or less energy than usual
- Change in personality or behavior
- Seizures
- Weight loss or weight gain for no known reason
- Increase in the size of the head (in infants)
- Seizures- In almost half of the cases, the first symptom of an astrocytoma is the onset of a focal or generalized seizure. Between 60 to 75% of patients will have recurrent seizures in the course of their illness.
- Children with astrocytoma usually have decreased memory, attention, and motor abilities, but unaffected intelligence, language, and academic skills.
- Anaplastic Astrocytoma is often related to seizures, neurologic deficits, headaches, or changes in mental status.[2] [3]
References
- ↑ "National Caner Institute Astrocytoma".
- ↑ JL Ater; et al. (1996). "Correlation of medical and neurosurgical events with neuropsychological status in children at diagnosis of astrocytoma: utilization of a neurological severity score". Journal of Child Neurology. 11 (6): 462–469. PMID 9120225.
- ↑ JM Dewar, PJ Dady and V Balakrishnan (1985). "Metastatic astrocytoma". Australian and New Zealand Journal of Medicine. 15 (6): 745–747. PMID 3010926.