What is pilocytic astrocytoma?

Also known as: juvenile pilocytic astrocytoma, JPA.

An astrocyte is a type of glial cell that supports and nourishes the neurons, the cells of the brain that send signals to the brain and rest of the body. An astrocytoma is a type of brain tumor glioma, and pilocytic astrocytomas are a family of slow-growing, mostly noncancerous (non spreading-grades 1 and 11) tumors from glial cells.

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Reviewed by: Jack Wolfsdorf, MD, FAAP

This page was last updated on: 1/29/2019 3:21:13 PM