Astrocytoma in children. A review of 79 cases--1960-1976.

Seventy-nine children with histologically proven astrocytomas, 32 cerebral, 30 cerebellar, 9 thalamic, 6 optic nerve, and 2 in the 4th ventricular floor were reviewed retrospectively. Seventy-one per cent of the astrocytomas were well differentiated. Unlike adult astrocytomas, there was slight female predominance in our group. Cerebral astrocytomas were more frequent beyond nine years of age. The overall five-year survival rate of cerebral astrocytomas was 95% (19/20) for well-differentiated, and 19% (2/12) for poorly-differentiated tumors. In cerebellar astrocytomas the survival rates were 75% (18/24) and 33% (2/6) respectively.