Surgical Management and Outcome of a Bilateral Thalamic Pilocytic Astrocytoma: Case Report and Review of the Literature

Abstract

The incidence of bilateral thalamic glioma in children is not reported in the literature. The majority of cases comprise either diffuse astrocytoma, anaplastic astrocytoma, or glioblastoma. Partial surgical resection or biopsy followed by adjuvant therapy is the usual treatment for bilateral thalamic gliomas. Prognosis is dependent on tumor grade and extent of tumor spread to surrounding critical structures. We present a rare case of bilateral thalamic pilocytic astrocytoma. Endoscopic biopsy, septostomy, and placement of a ventriculoperitoneal shunt was done followed by radiotherapy. The 36-month follow-up demonstrated radiological control of the tumor.

Keywords: Bilateral thalamic glioma; Endoscopic biopsy; Hydrocephalus; Thalamic glioma; Thalamus.