Primary malignant astrocytoma of the cerebellum in children. Report of a case with electron microscopic and cytofluorometric DNA evaluation.

The case of a 1-year-old girl with primary malignant astrocytoma of the cerebellum is presented with special reference to ultramicroscopic study and cytofluorometric DNA analysis. The routine light microscopic study was not pathognomonic because of the immaturity of the composing cells. The glial fibrillary microfilaments characteristic of astroglial cells were confirmed by means of electron microscopy. Cytofluorometrically, the DNA histogram of this case revealed a prominent peak in the 4C region, with considerable dispersion to the 8C region, indicating the polyploidic and heterogeneic pattern of malignant tumors.