CONGENITAL ASTROBLASTOMA - AN IMMUNOHISTOCHEMICAL STUDY - CASE-REPORT

Astroblastoma is a rare type of glial tumor, usually occurring in olde r children and young adults. It has a distinctive histological appeara nce that is characterized by a radiating arrangement of tumor cells th at form perivascular pseudorosettes. The authors report only the secon d case of astroblastoma presenting in congenital form. Following subto tal tumor resection, the infant received 10 courses of chemotherapy co nsisting of vincristine, etoposide, and carboplatinum. Evidence is pre sented for a tumor response to chemotherapy, a previously unreported o bservation. The child is alive 2.5 years after diagnosis with satisfac tory functional status. Immunohistological and ultrastructural feature s of this tumor are presented. The discussion focuses on the biology, natural history, and management of this unusual neoplasm.