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).
Toxins That Can Cause Peripheral Neuropathy. Acrylamide. Alcohol. Arsenic. Brevetoxin (from algae by means of the shellfish that eat it) Buckthorn berry toxin. Carbon disulfide (alone or as a contaminant of Agent Orange) Ciguatera toxin (from algae by means of the shellfish that eat it)