PLEOMORPHIC XANTHOASTROCYTOMA - SOME OBSERVATIONS

The authors describe 3 cases of cerebral pleomorphic xanthoastrocytoma , one of which has an unusual neuroradiological appearance, and review the clinical and prognostic features of the 96 cases reported in the literature. Pleomorphic xanthoastrocytoma is a neuroectodermal tumor t hat affects young patients, in a superficial or supratentorial site, m ost frequently at the temporal level. It is difficult to formulate a d ifferential diagnosis with other neuroectodermal tumors or with mening ioma on the basis et neuroradiological appearance, as demonstrated by one of the cases reported here. The prognosis of this tumor is very go od, regardless of the type of treatment performed, although both relap se and, more rarely, malignant tumor evolution are possible.