296. Spinal cord ependymoma: A Retrospective study of 12 patients

Abstract

Purpose Spinal cord ependymomas are relatively rare neoplasms and their management is not well established. This retrospective analysis was performed to examine the outcome of patients with this malignancy treated at our institution between 1982 and 2002. Study group and methods Hospital charts of 12 patients (nine men and three women) at a median age of 33 years (range 8 to 58 years) were retrospectively analyzed. This series included nine extra-medullary and three intramedullary ependymomas. All patients were treated with primary surgery, but in all except two excision was incomplete. Postoperative radiotherapy was administered in ten patients. One patient received radiotherapy following surgical excision of the relapse and one did not receive postoperative treatment due to poor performance status. Results One patient was lost to follow-up. Of the remaining 11 patients, at a median follow-up of 5.5 years (range 1 month to 20 years), ten have been alive – one without evidence of the recurrence and eight without progression. There have been no radiotherapy-related serious side effects. One of two patients who did not receive radiotherapy after complete resection experienced spinal axis failure and was managed with salvage radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Conclusion Surgical excision followed by radiotherapy in cases of microscopic complete resection is well tolerated and effective management of spinaj cord ependymomas.