astrocytoma
Meaning of astrocytoma: An astrocytoma is a brain or spinal cord tumor originating from astrocytes, star shaped cells that support and nourish neurons.
Definition of astrocytoma
An astrocytoma is a tumor that develops from astrocytes, star shaped cells within the brain and spinal cord that normally provide structural support, help regulate the chemical environment around neurons, and assist in repairing nervous system tissue. Astrocytomas can arise anywhere within the brain or spinal cord, though certain locations are more typical depending on a person's age.
Astrocytomas vary widely in how they behave, ranging from slower growing tumors that may remain relatively contained for an extended period to highly aggressive forms that grow quickly and spread through surrounding brain tissue. Because of this range, an astrocytoma is generally classified by how abnormal its cells appear and how rapidly it is growing, information obtained through biopsy or surgical sampling.
Symptoms of an astrocytoma depend heavily on its location and size, and can include headache, seizures, and neurological changes that reflect which part of the brain or spinal cord the tumor affects.
Used in a sentence
Imaging identified an astrocytoma involving the temporal lobe of the brain.
Good to know
Astrocytomas range from slow growing to highly aggressive, so the diagnosis alone does not indicate how a particular tumor will behave without further information from biopsy.
Word origin
Where “astrocytoma” comes from
Formed from Greek astron, meaning star, combined with kytos, meaning cell, and the suffix -oma, meaning tumor or mass.