Spontaneous regression of low-grade astrocytomas in childhood.

An 8-year-old boy with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) and a biopsy-proven juvenile pilocytic astrocytoma of the hypothalamic/chiasmatic region was followed with serial MRIs over 4 years. Spontaneous tumor regression was followed by progression and biopsy; 6 months later, the tumor regressed again. This bimodal regression is rare, but highlights the variable natural history of low-grade gliomas in children with NF1 and the difficulty in evaluating response of such tumors to therapy. Copyright 2000 S. Karger AG, Basel