Ependymoma Tumor

Ependymoma tumors are malignant cancer growths in the brain and spinal cord. People of all ages, including children, are susceptible to ependymoma. The National Cancer Institute states that around 1 in 11 brain tumors in children are ependymomas.

Types

• Ependymoma tumors are classified into four types: ependymoma and variants, anaplastic ependymoma, myxopapillary ependymoma and subependymoma.

Symptoms

• Symptoms associated with ependymoma tumors include frequent headaches, nausea and vomiting, seizures, and loss of balance and walking problems.

Diagnosis

• CAT scans and MRI images are used to find ependymoma tumors and then a surgical biopsy is taken to confirm diagnosis.

Treatment

• Ependymoma tumors are treated by removing as much of the tumor as possible and having radiation therapy.

Prognosis

• Prognosis for patients with ependymoma tumors depends on recurrence, if all cancer cells are removed during surgery or not, location and type of tumor, age, whether the cancer has spread to other parts of the body and if the cancer spread to the central nervous system.