What is an Astrocytoma?


  • Today's Paramedic quote:

    Blood goes round and round; air goes in and out; any variation from this is bad. - Paramedic 101.

  • PARAMEDIC HELP

    • Paramedic Study Notes
    • Paediatric Emergency Notes
    • ECG Tutorial
  • PARAMEDIC INFO

    • Ambulance FAQs
    • Ambulance News
    • Anatomy and Physiology
    • Chest Pain
    • Emergency Management
    • Health
    • Laughter is the Best Medicine
    • Medical Disorders
    • Medical Eponyms
    • Medical Liability
    • Medical Science
    • Medical Signs
    • Medical Syndromes
    • New Technologies
    • Paramedic Case Studies
    • Paramedic Education
    • Paramedic Equipment
    • Paramedic Exam Preparation
    • Paramedic Jobs
    • Paramedic Skills
    • Pathophysiology
    • Patient Assessment
    • Real Paramedic Stories
    • Trauma Assessment

What is an Astrocytoma?

An Astrocytoma is a tumour within the brain or surrounding part of the brain. Astrocytomas develop in glial-cells, which are star shaped cells within the brain known as astrocytes.

The World Health Organisation recognises 4 main grades of astrocytomas:

1. Grade I – Astrocytoma slow growing astrocytoma, with good long term survival prognosis;

2. Grade II Astrocytoma – low grade, and relatively benign.

3. Grade III Astrocytoma – anaplastic astrocytoma, which is often related to chronic seizures.

4. Grade IV Astrocytoma – glioblastoma multiform , which is a fast growing, most common malignant astrocytoma.

Unfortunately, the most common astrocytoma to be diagnosed with is a Grade IV malignant astrocytoma, although brain metastesies still have a much higher incidence than astrocytomas.



Copyright: Emergency Medical Paramedic 2010-2018. All rights reserved.
All information is provided for educational purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice.
Authors  Privacy Policy  Disclaimer  Advertising Policy  Contact Us  Our Goals