Diffuse Astrocytoma With Extensive Spinal Cord Involvement: A Case Report With Review

Abstract

Diffuse astrocytoma is a slow-growing, infiltrative glioma categorized as World Health Organization (WHO) grade II. While it typically affects the cerebral hemispheres, rare cases with extensive spinal cord involvement present diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. We report a case of diffuse astrocytoma in a 42-year-old male with an unusual phenotype showing a longitudinally extensive spinal intramedullary lesion, emphasizing the role of MRI in diagnosis and the importance of histopathological confirmation.