Patient with resected anaplastic astrocytoma and an image suggestive of relapse.

ABSTRACT

The main treatment of asctrocytomas is surgery, which serves a double purpose: diagnosis and treatment. Surgery can be complemented with radiotherapy. With respect to chemotherapy, there continues to be a controversy as to whether it has the capacity to overcome the blood-brain barrier. An interesting option has been the implantation of biodegradable polymers of carmustine that are placed in the cavity left by the surgical procedure. With respect to the cerebral edema that can be associated with the carmustine implants, there can appear images in follow-up that are suggestive of relapse.