[A clinical survey of cerebellar astrocytoma--comparison between childhood and adult cases (author's transl)].

The symptomatological investigations on 20 cases of cerebellar astocytoma were carried out. These cases, observed and treated in Hokkaido University Hospital from 1959 to 1978, were divided into two groups, such as childhood group (under 15 years old) and adult group (over 16 years old). The following conclusions were obtained: (1) The youngest was 2 years old and the oldest was 64 years old. The age distribution showed higher incidence in younger age group under the age of 30, especially in the first decade. (2) The most frequent symptoms were vomiting, headache and unsteady gait in all cases, but vomiting was constantly seen in childhood cases. (3) The average length of history in children was 2.4 months in childhood, and 17.6 months in adult cases. (4) Neurological signs on admission could be summarized as follows. The signs indicating increased intracranial pressure was most frequent, and the next common findings were ataxia of the limbs and trunk. Impairment of the cranial nerves and brainstem were uncommon. On neurological signs there was little difference between in children and in adults. (5) The total cases of complete removal of the tumor were many, but in adults there were not a few cases in which incomplete removal of the tumor was accomplished. (6) The majority of cerebellar astrocytoma were cystic and laterally placed in the cerebellum especially in children. (7) Microscopically in children, the frequent type was pilocytic astrocytoma of juvenile type. (8) The result of surgical removal of cerebellar astrocytoma was excellent, and the long-term survivours were found frequently and the quality of survival was good. The follow-up results in children were better than those in adults.