What type of tumor is seen in the background of Sturge Weber Syndrome?

Sturge-Weber syndrome is a neurological disorder characterized by a facial capillary malformation, or "port-wine stain," and associated neurological issues due to leptomeningeal angiomas. The type of tumor commonly seen in the context of Sturge-Weber syndrome is the astrocytic hamartoma.

Astrocytic hamartomas are benign tumors composed of astrocytes, which are star-shaped glial cells in the brain and spine. In the case of Sturge-Weber syndrome, these hamartomas are typically found in the cortex of the brain on the same side as the facial port-wine stain, and they can lead to seizures and other neurological deficits.

This connection between the vascular malformations characteristic of Sturge-Weber syndrome and the presence of astrocytic hamartomas underlines the relationship between the syndrome and the altered development of brain tissue linked to the vascular lesions. Understanding this relationship highlights the unique manifestations and neurological complications in patients with this syndrome.