Hemispheric supratentorial astrocytomas in children. Long-term results in 29 cases.

In a series of 41 cases of hemispheric supratentorial astrocytoma (HSA) in children, 29 patients have been followed for periods ranging from 5 to 27 years. The follow-up data show that HSA's are relatively benign tumors. Twenty-two patients (76%) are still living: 12 in good, eight in fair, and two in poor neurological condition. Their mean survival is 13.3 years. Five patients died from tumor recurrence within 4 years of the operation. All five were operated on before the age of 8 years. The best results in terms of mean survival and quality of life were obtained in cases of cystic HSA, especially the pilocytic variety. In children, HSA tends to take the cystic form (often pilocytic), and its relatively benign course points up an analogy between this rare supratentorial tumor and the more common tumor of the cerebellum (the so-called "cerebellar astrocytoma").