What Is the Survival Rate for Ependymoma? Tumor Grades

What Is the Survival Rate for Ependymoma
An ependymoma is a type of primary central nervous system (CNS) tumor that begins in the brain or spinal cord

The relative 5-year survival rate for ependymoma is 83.9%, although this depends on various factors such as the grade and type of tumor, age and health of the person when diagnosed, and how the cancer responds to treatment.

What is ependymoma?

An ependymoma is a type of primary central nervous system (CNS) tumor that begins in the brain or spinal cord. Ependymoma develops from ependymal cells (radial glial cells), which are one of the three types of glial cells that support the CNS.

Although ependymomas can occur anywhere in the CNS, they often occur near the ventricles in the brain and the central canal of the spinal cord. Rarely, they can occur outside the CNS, such as in the ovaries. 

The ventricles and central canal are spaces where the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of the CNS flows. CSF provides nutrition, removes waste material from the CNS, and acts as a shock absorber that prevents physical trauma to the brain and spinal cord.

Ependymoma spreads to other parts of the brain and spinal cord via the CSF, but in rare cases can spread outside the CNS.

Ependymomas of the brain (lower half) are more common in children while ependymomas of the spine are more common in adults. Males are more often affected than females.

What are the grades of ependymomas?

Ependymomas are categorized into three grades based on their microscopic characteristics. They are further grouped into subtypes after molecular testing. Molecular testing helps identify the location and disease characteristics of the ependymoma subtypes.

  • Grade I ependymoma: Low-grade, slow-growing tumors. Subtypes include subependymoma and myxopapillary ependymoma. Both are more common in adults than in children.
  • Grade II ependymoma: Low-grade tumors that can occur in either the brain or the spine.
  • Grade III ependymoma: Cancerous, fast-growing tumors. Subtypes include anaplastic ependymomas.

How are ependymomas diagnosed?

An ependymoma is diagnosed noninvasively via magnetic resonance imaging of the brain and spine. It usually appears as a well-defined mass near the ventricle of the brain or the central canal of the spine. The tumor mass often brightens with contrast.

To accurately diagnose ependymoma and its type, a part of the tumor removed during surgery is examined under a microscope by a neuropathologist.

What are common symptoms of ependymoma?

Symptoms of ependymoma depend on the location of the tumor. Cancerous types can cause multiple symptoms due to the involvement of many areas of the central nervous system.

Symptoms commonly seen with ependymoma in the brain include:

Symptoms commonly seen with ependymoma in the spine include:

  • Backache
  • Upper and lower limb weakness
  • Problems with urination and bowel evacuation
  • Problems in sexual activity

How is ependymoma treated?

Treatment of ependymoma is planned based on the patient’s age, tumor type, tumor location, coexisting conditions, and remaining tumor after surgery.

Unless the tumor has metastasized to multiple areas in the central nervous system, the primary treatment of ependymoma is surgical removal of the tumor.

There is no standard treatment protocol for ependymomas after surgery. Many people may not require additional treatment if there are little to no tumor tissue remnants after surgery. Other people may need treatment after surgery that may include radiationchemotherapy, or clinical trials with new chemotherapy, targeted therapy, or immunotherapy drugs.

Check Also

Bethanechol: Overactive Bladder Uses, Warnings, Side Effects, Dosage

Generic Name: bethanechol Brand Name: Urecholine (discontinued brand) Drug Class: Cholinergics, Genitourinary What is bethanechol, and what is it used for? Bethanechol is a medication approved by the FDA for treating urinary retention that occurs after surgery, childbirth, or due to a nerve disorder. Bethanechol is used off-label to treat gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Bethanechol …

What Is the Survival Rate for Ependymoma? Tumor Grades

What Is the Survival Rate for Ependymoma
An ependymoma is a type of primary central nervous system (CNS) tumor that begins in the brain or spinal cord

The relative 5-year survival rate for ependymoma is 83.9%, although this depends on various factors such as the grade and type of tumor, age and health of the person when diagnosed, and how the cancer responds to treatment.

What is ependymoma?

An ependymoma is a type of primary central nervous system (CNS) tumor that begins in the brain or spinal cord. Ependymoma develops from ependymal cells (radial glial cells), which are one of the three types of glial cells that support the CNS.

Although ependymomas can occur anywhere in the CNS, they often occur near the ventricles in the brain and the central canal of the spinal cord. Rarely, they can occur outside the CNS, such as in the ovaries. 

The ventricles and central canal are spaces where the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of the CNS flows. CSF provides nutrition, removes waste material from the CNS, and acts as a shock absorber that prevents physical trauma to the brain and spinal cord.

Ependymoma spreads to other parts of the brain and spinal cord via the CSF, but in rare cases can spread outside the CNS.

Ependymomas of the brain (lower half) are more common in children while ependymomas of the spine are more common in adults. Males are more often affected than females.

What are the grades of ependymomas?

Ependymomas are categorized into three grades based on their microscopic characteristics. They are further grouped into subtypes after molecular testing. Molecular testing helps identify the location and disease characteristics of the ependymoma subtypes.

  • Grade I ependymoma: Low-grade, slow-growing tumors. Subtypes include subependymoma and myxopapillary ependymoma. Both are more common in adults than in children.
  • Grade II ependymoma: Low-grade tumors that can occur in either the brain or the spine.
  • Grade III ependymoma: Cancerous, fast-growing tumors. Subtypes include anaplastic ependymomas.

How are ependymomas diagnosed?

An ependymoma is diagnosed noninvasively via magnetic resonance imaging of the brain and spine. It usually appears as a well-defined mass near the ventricle of the brain or the central canal of the spine. The tumor mass often brightens with contrast.

To accurately diagnose ependymoma and its type, a part of the tumor removed during surgery is examined under a microscope by a neuropathologist.

What are common symptoms of ependymoma?

Symptoms of ependymoma depend on the location of the tumor. Cancerous types can cause multiple symptoms due to the involvement of many areas of the central nervous system.

Symptoms commonly seen with ependymoma in the brain include:

Symptoms commonly seen with ependymoma in the spine include:

  • Backache
  • Upper and lower limb weakness
  • Problems with urination and bowel evacuation
  • Problems in sexual activity

How is ependymoma treated?

Treatment of ependymoma is planned based on the patient’s age, tumor type, tumor location, coexisting conditions, and remaining tumor after surgery.

Unless the tumor has metastasized to multiple areas in the central nervous system, the primary treatment of ependymoma is surgical removal of the tumor.

There is no standard treatment protocol for ependymomas after surgery. Many people may not require additional treatment if there are little to no tumor tissue remnants after surgery. Other people may need treatment after surgery that may include radiationchemotherapy, or clinical trials with new chemotherapy, targeted therapy, or immunotherapy drugs.

Check Also

강남 셔츠룸 서울부장

강남 셔츠룸 매정한 나라에요 ㅋㅋㅋ 신규오픈 매장으로 설치 물품들이 많습니다. 역시 시부야 아니랄까봐 우리 나라 정서가 두 들겨야 흥이 더 나는듯 합니다. 아직 소버일때 우리 여자 예쁘니 직원들이랑 사진찍고 놀기  5~2배 정도 들었던것같아요 일환이었던 월성 원전 1호기 조기폐쇄에 대한 감사는 수위 조절이 실패해서 포기 햇엇드랫죠;; 대량 매출 가능한 입지라 확신합니다. 게임센터 규모도 장난 아니더라구요 차량…

Leave a Reply