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Cent Eur Neurosurg 2011; 72(3): 127-132
DOI: 10.1055/s-0031-1273745
Original Article

© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Treatment Results in Patients with Intracranial Ependymomas

A. Boström1 , J. Boström1 , W. Hartmann2 , T. Pietsch3 , M. Feuss1 , M. von Lehe1 , M. Simon1
  • 1University Hospital of Bonn Medical Center, Department of Neurosurgery, Bonn, Germany
  • 2University Hospital of Bonn Medical Center, Department of Pathology, Bonn, Germany
  • 3University Hospital of Bonn Medical Center, Department of Neuropathology, Bonn, Germany
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Publication History

Publication Date:
31 May 2011 (online)

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Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the treatment outcomes of patients with intracranial ependymomas.

Methods: Between 1988–2007, 27 consecutive patients, with 9 patients (33%) aged under 16 years, were treated at our institution for an intracranial ependymoma. Pertinent clinical data were retrieved from the patients’ charts. The histopathological findings in 25 cases were reviewed using the 2007 World Health Organization (WHO) classification system. Median follow-up was 84 months.

Results: Infratentorial tumors were diagnosed in 22, and supratentorial tumors in 5 patients. Histopathological findings were ependymoma WHO grade II (E II) in 14 patients, and anaplastic ependymoma WHO grade III (AE III) in 13 patients. A complete tumor resection was achieved with the first operation in 20 cases (74%). Primary adjuvant therapy consisted of chemotherapy alone in a 17-month-old child with an incompletely resected posterior fossa AE III, radiation therapy alone in 4 cases, and combined radiation therapy and chemotherapy in 7 cases. Tumor recurrence was seen in 10 cases (37%), including 5 patients with an E II and 5 patients with an AE III. The 5-year progression-free survival (PFS) was 74% and 67% for E II and AE III, respectively. The 5-year PFS was 80% following a complete resection, and 56% in patients with a residual tumor.

Conclusions: Surgery alone, as the primary treatment, achieves a good outcome in most patients with E II. Good results can be achieved with surgery and adjuvant local radiotherapy in patients with AE III.

Key words

ependymoma - ventricular tumors - surgery

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Correspondence

Dr. A. Boström

University Hospital of Bonn

Medical Center

Department of Neurosurgery

Sigmund-Freud-Straße 25

53105 Bonn

Germany

Phone: + 49/0228/287 165 21

Fax: + 49/0228/287 165 73

Email: azize.bostroem@ukb.uni-bonn.de

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