Cerebellar astrocytoma

Benign and malignant neoplasms of the cerebellum that arise from astrocytes. During childhood the majority are benign pilocytic astrocytomas. In adults both benign and relatively higher grade forms may occur. The most common presenting symptoms are headache, nausea, vomiting, ataxia of gait or limb, paresis, diplopia, and dizziness. Objective signs include weakness, long tract signs, dysmetria, gait ataxia, papilledema, and nystagmus. Surgical resection is often curative.