ABSTRACT
Ependymoma evolves from the ependymal cells in different parts of the neuroaxis, typically the posterior fossa, the supratentorium, and the spinal cord. Affecting both children and adults, ependymoma represents the third most common form of childhood brain and spine tumors and accounts for about 10" of childhood central nervous system tumors and about 5" of adult intracranial gliomas. Patients with supratentorial ependymoma may display headache, seizures, or location-dependent focal neurologic deficits. Differential diagnosis for ependymoma includes pilocytic astrocytoma, oligodendroglioma, hemangioblastoma, and glioblastoma. Surgical removal offers an effective treatment for well-differentiated ependymoma, although surgery along with adjuvant radiotherapy and chemotherapy is necessary for other ependymoma. Prognosis of ependymoma depends on a number of factors, including the location and type of tumor, possible changes in the genes or chromosomes, presence of residual cancer cells after tumor removal, spreading to other parts of the brain or spinal cord, and age of affected child.
