Multiple cystic brain lesions in a patient with pilocytic astrocytoma.

Pilocytic astrocytomas are usually present as solitary posterior cranial fossa tumours. An unusual case of pilocytic astrocytoma in a 3 year and 8 month old boy is presented. The patient presented over the course of 10 months with intermittent headaches, vomiting, gait ataxia and drowsiness. After extensive investigations magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed widespread lesions throughout the central nervous system, including multiple cystic cerebral grey matter lesions. A brain biopsy was performed and pathological studies revealed pilocytic astrocytoma. The literature pertaining to neuraxis dissemination of pilocytic astrocytomas in the paediatric population is reviewed. There are only a very limited number of reports of pilocytic astrocytoma ca using multiple brain lesions, with no publications of multiple cystic brain lesions. We believe this to be a unique case of pilocytic astrocytoma presenting with widespread cystic lesions throughout the brain. Copyright 2001 Harcourt Publishers Ltd.