Diffuse Astrocytic Tumours
Grading based on 4 features:
Nuclear atypia
Mitoses
Microvascular proliferation
Necrosis
WHO Grades
Grade 1 tumours: infiltrating astrocytomas (not diffuse).
Grade 2 Diffuse Astrocytoma: looks like ill-defined intra-axial masses that are grey to gelatinous. On micro tumour cells aggregate near neurons and vessels. No mitosis, microvascular proliferation or necrosis.
Grade 3 Anaplastic Astrocytoma: looks like grade 2 AND has mitoses. No microvascular proliferation or necrosis.
Grade 4 Glioblastoma (GBM): has mitoses, microvascular proliferation and necrosis (look for palisading necrosis). Is the most malignant of all the astrocytomas.














