An unusual tuberous sclerosis case presenting with fibrillary astrocytoma

Tuberous sclerosis (TS) is an autosomal dominant disorder. It is characterized by hamartomatous lesions in various organs such as the brain, skin, kidneys and heart. Subependymal and parenchymal nodules occur in the cerebrum. Although giant cell astrocytoma may develop from these subependymal nodules, tumor formation is very rare in the cortical nodules. We present the clinical, computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging findings of a fibrillary astrocytoma originating from a cortical tuber in a 4-year-old female with TS. Copyright (C) 2002 S. Karger AG, Basel.