Cerebellar astrocytoma with benign histology and malignant clinical course

Juvenile cerebellar astrocytoma characteristically has a very benign course and good prognosis. A case is reported of juvenile cerebellar astrocytoma with massive craniospinal leptomeningeal spread prior to surgical intervention. The patient died 8 months after the onset of symptoms and only 5 weeks after presentation to the hospital. At postmortem examination, it was found that tumor encased the brain and spinal cord. The histology was benign. The literature on cerebellar astrocytoma is reviewed.