Summary Three cases of ependymal gliomas in children are reviewed which were incorrectly diagnosed at first and treated without improvement for variable lengths of time. Pain and stiffness of the back, slowly progressive and usually worse at night, were prominent symptoms. Some degree of weakness of the lower extremities was evident at some time during the course of the disease. A spinal puncture was found to be the most important diagnostic procedure and is recommended early in all cases of stiffness and intermittent or persistent pain in the back in children, where the diagnosis is doubtful. Usually, this has been done too late. Compression of the pedicles, when present on x-ray examination, is a valuable contributory finding. Surgical removal should be attempted, in the face of extensive involvement, since improvement can be obtained even if not entirely removed. One of these patients is still alive and asymptomatic three and one-half years postoperatively.