Ependymoma Tumors

What Is An Ependymoma Tumor?

An ependymoma is a type of glioma, which is a primary tumor that forms in the brain or spinal cord. Like other types of gliomas, ependymomas vary in aggressiveness and are typically treated with surgical removal.

What are the types of ependymoma? 

There are four types of ependymomas, including:

• Subependymomas (grade 1) — More common in adults, these benign (noncancerous) tumors grow in the part of your brain that contains cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).
• Classic ependymomas (grade 2) — The most common type of ependymoma, which is benign and can affect children and adults.
• Myxopapillary ependymomas (grade 2) — Benign tumor that develops in the lower part of your spinal cord and is most common in adult men.
• Anaplastic ependymomas (grade 3) — Aggressive, cancerous tumors that develop near the base of the brain. They can grow quickly, spread to other areas of the brain, and recur even after treatment.

Are ependymoma tumors cancerous?

Only grade 3 ependymoma tumors are cancerous.

How common is ependymoma?

Ependymoma is a rare type of brain tumor, affecting fewer than 5,000 people in the U.S. They are more common in children, but can also affect adults.

What causes ependymoma?

Doctors aren’t sure what causes ependymoma tumors. However, studies suggest that they could be linked to certain genetic conditions, such as neurofibromatosis type 2.

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What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Ependymoma?

Ependymoma symptoms may include:

• Headaches.
• Nausea or vomiting.
• Personality changes.
• Seizures.
• Speech, vision, or memory problems.
• Weakness or loss of sensation in your arms and/or legs.

When should I see a doctor about my ependymoma symptoms?

If you have symptoms of ependymoma, make an appointment to see your doctor immediately. The sooner treatment starts, the better the chance of a good outcome.

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How Do You Diagnose Ependymoma?

To diagnose ependymoma, your doctor will ask about your symptoms. They'll do an exam to check your vision, reflexes, and other neurological functions.

What to expect during your visit

If your doctor suspects an ependymoma, they will:

• Ask about your symptoms.
• Perform a physical and neurological exam.
• Order other tests.
• Review your health history and medications.

Tests to diagnose ependymoma

Your doctor may order imaging studies, including:

• Standard MRI — To pinpoint where the tumor is and help doctors determine the tumor grade.
• Specialized MRI — A functional MRI lights up the parts of the brain you use when completing different tasks. It can be used to develop a brain tumor treatment plan.
• CT scan — A test that creates images of your body's organs, bones, and tissues.

Ependymoma prognosis

Your prognosis after an ependymoma diagnosis depends on the tumor type, grade, and location, as well as your age and overall health.

What is the survival rate for ependymoma?

Roughly 85% of people with an ependymoma diagnosis survive for at least five years.

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How Do You Treat Ependymoma Tumors?

In most cases, the goals of ependymoma treatment are to remove or destroy the tumor and reduce the risk of regrowth.

Treatment options for ependymoma may include:

Neurosurgery for ependymomas

Whenever possible, ependymomas are surgically removed.

Your UPMC neurosurgical team will develop a treatment plan to safely remove as much of your tumor as possible while preserving healthy brain tissue, critical nerves, and your ability to return to normal functioning.

Our neurosurgeons often use image-guided surgery, along with preoperative or intraoperative brain mapping, to remove the ependymoma safely.

Gamma Knife stereotactic radiosurgery for ependymomas

Gamma Knife radiosurgery is a painless procedure that uses hundreds of highly focused radiation beams to target tumors and lesions within the brain, with no surgical incisions.

Gamma Knife treatment may be an option when parts of your tumor must be left behind after surgery or if your ependymoma recurs. Gamma Knife radiosurgery can also enhance the effectiveness of radiation delivered directly to the tumor.

As the nation's leading provider of Gamma Knife procedures, our team has treated more than 12,000 patients with tumors, including ependymomas, as well as vascular malformations, pain, and other neurological issues.

UPMC neurosurgeons may also treat your ependymoma with stereotactic radiosurgery using the CyberKnife and other linear accelerator-based systems.

Radiation therapy for ependymoma 

Radiation therapy is a common treatment for ependymoma, either alone or with surgery.

Radiation therapy treatment options include:

• External radiation — Directs radiation from an external source onto the tumor.
• Internal radiation — Involves placing radioactive material in the brain near the tumor.

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