Although they are generally benign, juvenile pilocytic astrocytomas can cause symptoms when they press against nearby structures in the brain. Symptoms may include:
- Headache
- Nausea and vomiting
Other symptoms will depend upon on where the tumor is located. For example, a tumor in the cerebellum — which controls balance and coordination — may cause clumsiness, weakness, or problems walking. A juvenile pilocytic astrocytoma pressing on the optic nerve may cause vision changes. If the tumor presses on the hypothalamus or pituitary gland, which regulate growth,symptoms may include short stature, behavior changes, or early or delayed puberty.
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Our Care Team
- Vice Chairman, Neurological Surgery
- Director, Pediatric Neurological Surgery
Phone: 212-746-2363
- Vice Chairman for Academic Affairs
- Professor of Neurological Surgery, Pediatric Neurosurgery
- Associate Residency Director
Phone: 212-746-2363
- Victor and Tara Menezes Clinical Scholar in Neuroscience
- Associate Professor of Neurological Surgery in Pediatrics
Phone: 212-746-2363
Reviewed by: Jeffrey Greenfield, Ph.D., M.D.
Last reviewed/last updated: April 2021