What is thalamic/hypothalamic astrocytoma?
(grade I pilocytic thalamic/hypothalamic glioma) (grade II fibrillary thalamic/hypothalamic glioma) (suprasellar low-grade glioma) A low-grade glioma of either the thalamus or hypothalamus is a tumor arising from a type of cell in the central nervous system known as a glial cell. These tumors originate from a specific type of glial cell known as an astrocyte. Astrocytes make up the supportive network of the brain. These cells are named for their star-like appearance. Low-grade gliomas of the thalamus or hypothalamus (sometimes referred to as suprasellar astrocytomas or suprasellar low grade gliomas) are astrocytomas (grade I pilocytic astrocytomas or grade II fibrillary astrocytomas) of the thalamus (responsible for identification of sensation, such as temperature, pain, touch) or the hypothalamus (responsible for hormone functioning, body temperature, sleep and appetite). A low-grade glioma may invade both the thalamus and hypothalamus, or may involve only one of these deep-lying, cen
