TABLE 3.
Clinical Features of PAs, LGSI, and DAs at Diagnosis
| PA, n = 50 | LGSI, n = 17 | DA, n = 28 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Age at surgery, median (IQR), yrs | 13 (9–21) | 10.5 (5–16) | 28 (9–38) |
| Sex, n (%) | |||
| Male | 29 (59) | 7 (44) | 16 (57) |
| Female | 20 (41) | 9 (56) | 12 (43) |
| Presenting symptoms, n (%) | |||
| Headache/pain | 15 (30) | 3 (18) | 8 (29) |
| Visual disturbances | 14 (28) | 3 (18) | 7 (25) |
| Nausea and vomiting | 6 (12) | 1 (6) | 4 (14) |
| Dizziness | 5 (10) | ||
| Seizures | 4 (8) | 4 (14) | |
| Ataxia/gait problems | 4 (8) | 5 (29) | 3 (11) |
| Extremity weakness | 4 (8) | 1 (6) | 2 (7) |
| Cognitive impairment | 1 (2) | 1 (6) | 1 (4) |
| Lethargy | 1 (2) | 2 (7) | |
| Delayed motor development | 1 (2) | ||
| Irritability | 1 (2) | 1 (6) | |
| Aphasia | 1 (4) | ||
| Paresthesias | 1 (4) | ||
| Hypotonia | 1 (6) | 2 (7) | |
| Asymptomatic | 4 (8) | 2 (12) | 2 (7) |
| Location, n (%) | |||
| Hemispheric | 11 (22) | 3 (18) | 11 (39) |
| Optic pathway | 14 (28) | 4 (24) | 4 (14) |
| Brainstem | 6 (12) | 3 (17) | 6 (21) |
| Intraventricular | 6 (12) | 1 (6) | 1 (4) |
| Thalamus | 4 (8) | 1 (6) | 4 (14) |
| Cerebellum | 5 (10) | 2 (12) | 1 (4) |
| Spinal cord | 2 (4) | 2 (12) | |
| Tectum | 1 (2) | 1 (6) | |
| Diffuse/multifocal | 1 (2) | 1 (4) | |
| Radiology, n (%) | |||
| Enhancement | |||
| Ring/peripheral | 4 (8) | 4 (14) | |
| Heterogenous | 4 (14) | ||
| Homogenous | 6 (35) | 2 (7) | |
| Unspecified | 18 (36) | 2 (12) | 6 (21) |
| Absent | 2 (7) | ||
| Infiltrative growth | 6 (35) | 7 (25) | |
| Circumscribed | 18 (36) | 1 (4) | |
| Cystic and solid | 10 (20) | 2 (12) | |
| Hydrocephalus | 5 (10) | 1 (6) | |
| Enlargement of optic nerve/canal | 3 (6) | 1 (4) | |
| Sellar erosion | 3 (6) | ||
| Extent of surgery, n (%) | |||
| GTR | 16 (33) | 4 (24) | 3 (12) |
| STR | 18 (37) | 5 (29) | 7 (27) |
| Biopsy only | 14 (29) | 7 (41) | 13 (50) |
DA, diffusely infiltrating astrocytoma; GTR, gross total resection; IQR, interquartile range; LGSI, low-grade astrocytomas, subtype indeterminate; PA, pilocytic astrocytoma; STR, subtotal resection.