Childhood astrocytoma is a disease in which benign (noncancer) or malignant (cancer) cells form in the tissues of the brain. Astrocytomas are tumors that start in star-shaped brain cells called astrocytes.An astrocyte is a type of glial cell.hildhood astrocytoma is a disease in which benign (noncancer) or malignant (cancer) cells form in the tissues of the brain. Astrocytomas are tumors that start in star-shaped brain cells called astrocytes.
Medication. A few medications may sometimes cause peripheral neuropathy as a side effect in some people. These include: 1  some types of chemotherapy for cancer (especially for bowel cancer, lymphoma or myeloma). 2  some antibiotics, if taken for months (metronidazole, nitrofurantoin).
Neuropathy secondary to drugs. Neuropathy secondary to drugs is a loss of sensation or movement in a part of the body due to nerve damage from a certain medicine. The damage is caused by the toxic effects of certain medicines on the peripheral nerves (nerves that are not in the brain or spinal cord). There may be damage to the axon part of the nerve cell, which interferes with nerve signals. Most commonly, many nerves are involved (polyneuropathy).