Intracranial ependymal tumour: a clinical study of 83 cases

Abstract

Objective To study the clinical features of patients with intracranial ependymal tumour, and explore the prognostic factors which have.a significant association with the outcome. Methods Eighty-three patients with histologically proven ependymal tumour were retrospectively reviewed. The tumour location, the patients' age, the histological features, imaging characteristics, surgical management and adjuvant therapy were studied. Results In 83 cases of intracranial ependymal tumour,41 cases were infratentorial and 42 cases were supratentorial ependymal tumour, 37 patients age ≤15 years, while 46patients age ＞ 15 years. Fifty-eight patients ( 69.9% ) and 25 patients (30.1% ) had low (WHO Ⅰ - Ⅱ ) and high-grade (WHOⅢ) tumors respectively. Sixty-reven (80.7%) patients had gross total resection and 16patients ( 19.3% ) had subtotal resection. The 5-year survival rate was 81.9%( 68/83 ). The factors that were found to have a statistical significance association with the outcome were the extent of the resection and the pathologic characteristics. Conclusions Gross total resection of these tumors results in a good long-term outcome. Reoperation should be considered, if feasible, to remove residual malignant tissue. Anaplastic ependymomas carries a much poorer prognosis. Radiotherapy may play an important role in their treatment.The role of chemotherapy appears limited but can be attempted, especially in the very young, in order to avoid the deleterious effect of radiotherapy. Key words: Ependymoma; Surgical procedures,operative; Radiotherapy; Chemotherapy; Prognosis