Astrocytomas are tumors that develop in your central nervous system (CNS). They usually develop in the brain but can develop in the spinal cord as well. Astrocytomas can be benign (noncancerous) or malignant (cancerous). In adults, glioblastoma (grade 4 astrocytoma) is the most common type of brain cancer. Symptoms can vary based on its size and location, Common symptoms include, headaches, nausea & vomiting, seizures, memory loss, altered mental status, and fatigue. Researchers don’t know the exact cause of most astrocytomas. The main forms of treatment for it are surgery, radiation therapy, adjuvant chemotherapy, and tumor-treating fields (for glioblastomas). The majority of these tumors are sporadic, meaning that they happen randomly.
Reference:
Hirtz, A., Rech, F., Dubois-Pot-Schneider, H., & Dumond, H. (2020). Astrocytoma: A Hormone-Sensitive Tumor?. International journal of molecular sciences, 21(23), 9114. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms21239114
