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)

Synonyms: Astrocytoma, Pilocytic, Pilocytic Astrocytomas, Childhood Cerebral Astrocytoma, Astrocytoma, Cerebral, Astrocytoma, Anaplastic, Grade II Astrocytoma, Cerebral Astrocytomas, Gliomas, Astrocytic, Astrocytomas, Childhood Cerebral, Astrocytomas, Juvenile Pilocytic, Oligoastrocytomas, Mixed, Astrogliomas, Astrocytoma, Grade III, Juvenile Pilocytic Astrocytomas, Astrocytomas, Astrocytoma, Intracranial, Glioma, Astrocytic, Grade I Astrocytomas, Astrocytomas, Grade II, Subependymal Giant Cell Astrocytoma, Grade II Astrocytomas, Astrocytoma, Fibrillary, Cerebral Astrocytoma, Astrocytomas, Anaplastic, Astrocytoma, Grade II, Pilocytic Astrocytoma, Astrocytoma, Grade I, Mixed Oligoastrocytomas, Oligoastrocytoma, Mixed, Juvenile Pilocytic Astrocytoma, Cerebral Astrocytoma, Childhood, Gemistocytic Astrocytoma, Grade I Astrocytoma, Astrocytomas, Protoplasmic, Gemistocytic Astrocytomas, Anaplastic Astrocytoma, Astrocytoma, Childhood Cerebral, Astrocytoma, Gemistocytic, Intracranial Astrocytomas, Intracranial Astrocytoma, Childhood Cerebral Astrocytomas, Grade III Astrocytomas, Astrocytic Glioma, Astrocytomas, Cerebral, Astrocytomas, Fibrillary, Pilocytic Astrocytoma, Juvenile, Astrocytomas, Gemistocytic, Protoplasmic Astrocytoma, Anaplastic Astrocytomas, Astrocytoma, Astrocytomas, Grade I, Grade III Astrocytoma, Astrocytoma, Juvenile Pilocytic, Astrocytomas, Grade III, Pilocytic Astrocytomas, Juvenile, Mixed Oligoastrocytoma, Astroglioma, Protoplasmic Astrocytomas, Astrocytoma, Subependymal Giant Cell, Astrocytomas, Pilocytic, Cerebral Astrocytomas, Childhood, Fibrillary Astrocytoma, Fibrillary Astrocytomas, Astrocytomas, Intracranial, Astrocytoma, Protoplasmic, Astrocytic Gliomas