Title |
An infant with hyperalertness, hyperkinesis, and failure to thrive: a rare diencephalic syndrome due to hypothalamic anaplastic astrocytoma
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Published in |
BMC Cancer, September 2015
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DOI | 10.1186/s12885-015-1626-x |
Pubmed ID | |
Authors |
Alessia Stival, Maurizio Lucchesi, Silvia Farina, Anna Maria Buccoliero, Francesca Castiglione, Lorenzo Genitori, Maurizio de Martino, Iacopo Sardi |
Abstract |
Diencephalic Syndrome is a rare clinical condition of failure to thrive despite a normal caloric intake, hyperalertness, hyperkinesis, and euphoria usually associated with low-grade hypothalamic astrocytomas. We reported an unusual case of diencephalic cachexia due to hypothalamic anaplastic astrocytoma (WHO-grade III). Baseline endocrine function evaluation was performed in this patient before surgery. After histological diagnosis, he enrolled to a chemotherapy program with sequential high-dose chemotherapy followed by hematopoietic stem cell rescue. The last MRI evaluation showed a good response. The patient is still alive with good visual function 21 months after starting chemotherapy. Diencephalic cachexia can rarely be due to high-grade hypothalamic astrocytoma. We suggest that a nutritional support with chemotherapy given to high doses without radiotherapy could be an effective strategy for treatment of a poor-prognosis disease. |
X Demographics
Geographical breakdown
Country | Count | As % |
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Unknown | 3 | 100% |
Demographic breakdown
Type | Count | As % |
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Members of the public | 1 | 33% |
Practitioners (doctors, other healthcare professionals) | 1 | 33% |
Scientists | 1 | 33% |
Mendeley readers
Geographical breakdown
Country | Count | As % |
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United Kingdom | 1 | 3% |
Unknown | 38 | 97% |
Demographic breakdown
Readers by professional status | Count | As % |
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Student > Bachelor | 9 | 23% |
Student > Master | 5 | 13% |
Lecturer | 3 | 8% |
Student > Doctoral Student | 2 | 5% |
Other | 2 | 5% |
Other | 7 | 18% |
Unknown | 11 | 28% |
Readers by discipline | Count | As % |
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Medicine and Dentistry | 19 | 49% |
Nursing and Health Professions | 5 | 13% |
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology | 1 | 3% |
Social Sciences | 1 | 3% |
Economics, Econometrics and Finance | 1 | 3% |
Other | 0 | 0% |
Unknown | 12 | 31% |