Primary neoplasm of astrocytic origin within spinal cord. IA is the most common intramedullary spinal cord tumor outside the filum terminale (30%) Uncommon in first year. Peak: 3rd - 5th decade. Male : Female = 1,5 : 1. The ratio of benign : malignant = 3 : 1 in all ages. 80-90% are low grade (fibrillary or pilocytic). 10-15% are high grade (anaplastic or GB). IA occurs at all levels, thoracic most common, then cervical. 38% are cystic; cyst fluid has high protein. Contrast-enhanced MR is single best test for any form of myelopathy. Survival varies with tumor histology/grade and gross total resection: 80% 5 year for low grade and 30% for high grade.
References
- Handbook of Neurosurgery - sixth edition - Mark S. Greenberg - ed. Thieme, 2006.
- Ross JS, Brant-Zawadzki M, Moore KR, et al.. Diagnostic Imaging Spine. First edition - Amirsys - Elsevier Saunders - 2004.
