CONGENITAL ASTROCYTOMAS: THE ROENTGENOGRAPHIC MANIFESTATIONS

¹ Formerly Fellow in Neuroradiology. Presently Assistant Professor of Radiology, Graduate Hospital of University of Pennsylvania and Presbyterian-University of Pennsylvania Medical Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
² Professor of Radiology.

1. Two unusual cases of congenital astrocytomas are reported. Clinically, the first case manifested enlarged external genitalia at birth and the occurrence of convulsions at 3 weeks of age. The second case presented with hydrocephalus since birth.

2. In the first case, the tumor was noted in the extra-axial suprasellar region roentgenographically and at surgery. The tumors in the pituitary stalk region have been referred to as "infundibulomas" or "neurohypophyseal gliomas." These tumors probably arise from the heterotopic glial tissue which may be present in the subarachnoid space. In the second case, the tumor was located in the hypothalamus, third ventricle, and infiltrated into thalamus and brain stem.

3. Brain tumors that are present at birth or appear before the age of 60 days are considered to be congenital tumors. Hydrocephalus is the most common finding. Histologically, most of the congenital gliomas are low grade, well differentiated astrocytomas.

4. The literature is reviewed. The roentgenographic findings and the differential diagnoses are discussed.

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