"Pylocidic Astrocytoma

In the November of 1996, I was diagnosed with a midline pylocidic astrocytoma, which was roughly the size of a golf ball.  The tumor was removed immediately, leaving only approximately 20-39% of the mass behind.  My surgeon and nerologyst both were certian that this would be the end of the problem.  But, by mid January of 1997, the reminants of the mass had regrown by nearly 40% of what was left behind.  I was then treated with Gamma Radiation Thearapy, which put and end to the tumor, entirely.

My question today is what might have likely been the cause of this nervous tissue growth and whether or not I could pass this on, gentically, to my own offspring.  This is my greatest fear that I would doom my own child to endure the same fate I once held.

I hope that your facility can find some information in regards to these quaries.

Sincerely

Aaron Joseph Rosenbaum

[Fernando Roque, MD]

Hi Aaron.  I'm not aware of any type of astrocytoma called "pylocidic".  There is a type called pilocytic astrocytoma. Maybe this is the one you're referring to, since this usually presents as a midline tumor. This kind of astrocytoma is considered a benign (non-cancerous) tumor, and commonly occurs in children, but may also be seen occasionally in adults. Nobody knows for sure what causes these kinds of tumors to grow.  What is known is that these tumors rarely become malignant.  They can, however, regrow when they are not completely excised.  These kinds of tumors are not usually passed on to the offspring, so you don't have to worry about it.