Astrocytoma history and symptoms

Symptoms
In almost half of the cases, the first symptom of an astrocytoma is the onset of a focal or generalized seizure. Between 60 to 75% of patients will have recurrent seizures in the course of their illness. Headache and signs of increased intracranial pressure (headache, vomiting) usually present late in the disease course.

In children, the tumor is usually located in the cerebellum and will present with some combination of vision deterioration (which is typically uncorrectable by glasses), gait instability, unilateral ataxia, and signs of increased intracranial pressure (headache, vomiting).

Children with astrocytoma usually have decreased memory, attention, and motor abilities, but unaffected intelligence, language, and academic skills. When metastasis occurs, it can spread via the lymphatic system, causing death even when the primary tumor is well controlled.