Congenital gemistocytic astrocytoma in a fetus

Congenital brain tumors, especially tumors diagnosed before birth, are very rare. This report presents a case of a congenital gemistocytic astrocytoma diagnosed by antenatal intrauterine ultrasound. An intrauterine MRI revealed hydrocephalus and a mass lesion including massive hemorrhage in the right occipital lobe of a fetus. The patient was delivered by cesarean section and a total excision of the hemorrhagic tumor was carried out on the third day of his life. The histological study revealed gemistocytic astrocytoma (WHO grade II). Neither adjuvant chemotherapy nor radiation was given after the first surgery. Ten months after his birth, a recurrent tumor was depicted on follow-up MRI. The second total excision of the recurrent tumor and chemotherapy using cisplatin and vincristine were performed. The patient is free of disease at the age of 2 years and 6 months.