Untreated Childhood Cerebellar Astrocytoma

Untreated childhood cerebellar astrocytoma is a tumor for which no treatment has been given. The child may have received drugs or treatment to relieve symptoms caused by the tumor.

Initial treatment for childhood cerebellar astrocytoma is usually surgery. When the tumor is completely removed by surgery, more treatment may not be needed and the child is closely observed for symptoms to appear or change. This is also called watchful waiting.

If cancer cells remain after surgery, treatment depends on the location of the remaining cancer cells and the age of the child. Standard treatment may include the following:

• Watchful waiting.
• Another surgery to remove the tumor.
• Radiation therapy.
• Chemotherapy.

Check for clinical trials from NCI's PDQ Cancer Clinical Trials Registry that are now accepting patients with untreated childhood cerebellar astrocytoma.

Recurrent Childhood Cerebellar Astrocytoma

Standard treatment of recurrent childhood cerebellar astrocytoma may include the following:

• Surgery.
• Radiation therapy.
• Chemotherapy.

Some of the treatments being studied in clinical trials for recurrent childhood cerebellar astrocytoma include the following:

• A clinical trial of new anticancer drugs.

Information about this and other ongoing clinical trials is available from the NCI Cancer.gov Web site.

Check for clinical trials from NCI's PDQ Cancer Clinical Trials Registry that are now accepting patients with recurrent childhood cerebellar astrocytoma.