And while astrocytomas can be graded I through IV, juvenile pilocytic astrocytomas are only grade I because they are generally benign and slow-growing.
Because astrocytes are found through the brain and spinal cord, astrocytomas can form throughout those locations, but juvenile pilocytic astrocytomas are mostly infratentorial tumors in the cerebellum or near the brainstem.
Individuals are also at an increased risk of developing a subependymal giant cell astrocytoma, or SEGA, which is a type of cancer that can arise from the subependymal nodules.
Now, while medulloblastoma may be the most common malignant tumor, the most common primary pediatric tumor is a type of astrocytoma called a juvenile pilocytic astrocytoma.