Anaplastic Astrocytoma

Findings:

Axial noncontrast CT in brain/bone windows and T1 pre/postcontrast MR demonstrate a partially calcified lesion with associated nodular enhancement in the right frontoparietal parasagittal lobe. A remote craniotomy is incompletely included.

Differential diagnosis:

Oligodendroglioma, astrocytoma, metastasis.

Discussion:

Psammomatous calcifications may be seen in up to 25% astrocytomas, but are less common than calcifications in oligodendroglioma (90%), supratentorial PNET (60%), and ependymoma (50%)

grade I

  -Juvenile pilocytic astrocytoma, pleomorphic xanthoastrocytoma, subeependymal giant cell astrocytoma, ganglioglioma

 grade II

  -diffuse astrocytoma, hemangiopericytoma

grade III

  -anaplastic astrocytoma, hemangiopericytoma

grade IV

  -glioblastoma multiforme (GBM)

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