title: Ependymomas. Factors in clinical and diagnostic staging.
abstract: In ependymoma, there is evidence that indicates that age, sex, histologic patterns, functional status, location, duration of symptoms, size, and accessibility to surgical removal influence survival. The role of neuron-specific enolase and other biologic markers must await the accumulation of further information. Further advances in diagnostic imaging, immunodiagnostics, and intraoperative staging should lead to a better understanding of the disease and pinpoint prognostic factors more precisely. A profile that contains important information is suggested; this should eventually lead to the development of a staging system.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D002551:Cerebral Ventricle Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004806:Ependymoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D013120:Spinal Cord Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis