Intracranial subependymoma: clinical features and surgical management of 22 cases

Abstract

To study the clinical features, neuro-radiology and treatment of intracranial subependymomas. A total of 22 subependymomas were reviewed with regards to clinical presentation, neuro-imaging features, treatment, histopathological features and long-term follow-up. There were 13 males and 9 females with an age range of 5 to 54 years old. Fourteen tumors were located in lateral ventricles, 1 located on frontal-parietal lobe, 1 on mesencephalon, 2 on pons, 2 in fourth ventricle and 1 on cerebellum. One tumor was located in temporal lobe, mesencephalon, thalamus and pons. All tumors were surgically removed, including 18 totally removed (including 14 supra-tentorial and 4 infra-tentorial tumors) and 4 partially removed (including 1 supra- and infra-tentorial and 3 infra-tentorial tumors). During the follow-up, there was 1 recurrent case. Intracranial subependymoma is a rare benign tumor. And microsurgery represents the most effective therapy. Total resection can be expected for supra-tentorial tumors, but partial resection is often performed for infra-tentorial tumors. The prognosis is excellent and there is a rare tumor recurrence.