Neoplasms of the brain and spinal cord derived from glial cells which vary from histologically benign forms to highly anaplastic and malignant tumors. Fibrillary astrocytomas are the most common type and may be classified in order of increasing malignancy (grades I through IV). In the first two decades of life, astrocytomas tend to originate in the cerebellar hemispheres; in adults, they most frequently arise in the cerebrum and frequently undergo malignant transformation. (From Devita et al., Cancer: Principles and Practice of Oncology, 5th ed, pp2013-7; Holland et al., Cancer Medicine, 3d ed, p1082)

Annotation

coordinate with precoordinated CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM neoplasm term + site; Grades I-III go here, with pathology; for ASTROCYTOMA, GRADE IV see GLIOBLASTOMA; for SUBEPENDYMAL ASTROCYTOMA see GLIOMA, SUBEPENDYMAL; for MIXED OLIGODENDROGLIOMA-ASTROCYTOMA see OLIGODENDROGLIOMA

DUI

D001254 MeSH Browser

CUI

M0001891

History note

1963; for ASTROCYTOMA, SUBEPENDYMAL GIANT CELL use GLIOMA 1994-1999

Public note

1963; for ASTROCYTOMA, SUBEPENDYMAL GIANT CELL see GLIOMA 1994-1999