PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Arslanoglu, Atilla
AU  - Cirak, Bayram
AU  - Horska, Alena
AU  - Okoh, James
AU  - Tihan, Tarik
AU  - Aronson, Leslie
AU  - Avellino, Anthony M.
AU  - Burger, Peter C.
AU  - Yousem, David M.
TI  - MR Imaging Characteristics of Pilomyxoid Astrocytomas
DP  - 2003 Oct 01
TA  - American Journal of Neuroradiology
PG  - 1906--1908
VI  - 24
IP  - 9
4099  - http://www.ajnr.org/content/24/9/1906.short
4100  - http://www.ajnr.org/content/24/9/1906.full
SO  - Am. J. Neuroradiol.2003 Oct 01; 24
AB  - BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Pilomyxoid astrocytoma (PMA) is a recently described tumor that typically occurs in the chiasmatic-hypothalamic region in young children and has unique histopathologic and clinical characteristics. These tumors have been previously diagnosed as pilocytic astrocytoma (PA). PMA appears to have a higher rate of recurrence and CSF dissemination than typical PA.METHODS: We analyzed MR findings in four patients with PMA and compared them with those of typical chiasmatic-hypothalamic PA.RESULTS: MR findings of PMA were chiasmatic or hypothalamic enhancing solid tumor with hydrocephalus, highly homogeneous T2 signal intensity that extended into the deep white and gray matter, and CSF dissemination.CONCLUSION: Larger series are needed before the MR imaging findings of chiasmatic or hypothalamic enhancing solid tumor with hydrocephalus, highly homogeneous T2 signal intensity extending into the deep white and gray matter, and CSF dissemination can be used in the differential diagnosis of such tumors.