A molecular study of pediatric pilomyxoid and pilocytic astrocytomas: Genome-wide copy number screening, retrospective analysis of clinicopathological features and long-term clinical outcome.

Background: Pilocytic Astrocytoma (PA) is the most common pediatric brain tumors. PAs are slow-growing tumors with high survival rates. However, a distinct subgroup of tumors defined as pilomyxoid astrocytoma (PMA) presents unique histological characteristics and have more aggressive clinical course.

Outcome of Childhood Cerebellar Pilocytic Astrocytoma: A Series With 20 Years of Follow Up.

Background: Cerebellar pilocytic astrocytoma (PCA) is one of the few CNS tumors that can be cured with gross-total removal (GTR). In this series, we had 39 patients diagnosed with cerebellar PCA, 27 patients (70%) had GTR, and mean follow-up period was 62 months with no tumor recurrence.

Objective: To assess the long-term outcome of childhood cerebellar PCA treated at our institute during the period 2000-2020 and to highlight our surgical protocol.

A limited unilateral transpedicular approach for anterior decompression of the thoracolumbar spinal cord in elderly and high-risk patients.

Background: Surgical treatment for elderly patients with thoracolumbar (TL) kyphosis and spinal cord (SC) compression presents significant challenges due to compression location, the amount of deformity, and patient's medical status might not permit full correction of the deformity. In this series, we present a surgical approach that provides adequate decompression without the risks associated with a pedicle subtraction osteotomy/posterior vertebral column resection or an anterior corpectomy.

Methods: Three patients presented with TL kyphosis and progressive neurologic symptoms.