Treatment of intracranial ependymoma by surgery alone.
OBJECTIVE
This study aimed to determine the safety of deferring radiotherapy in pediatric intracranial ependymoma following a radiographically confirmed gross total resection in patients with localized disease.


METHODS
Children over age 3 were recruited prospectively from 1990 to 1997, following a surgical impression and radiologic confirmation of a gross total resection of an intracranial ependymoma.


RESULTS
10/32 cases of intracranial ependymomas were both eligible and gave consent. 7 remain free of disease without further intervention. 3 recurred, 2 were salvaged with surgery and radiotherapy, none died.


CONCLUSIONS
Deferral of radiotherapy following gross total resection alone is a safe option in supratentorial ependymomas. The pattern of recurrence is usually local and patients may be salvaged with additional surgery with or without radiotherapy.
Department of Neurology, Beth Israel Medical Center, New York, N.Y., USA.
J
J
Hukin
F
F
Epstein
D
D
Lefton
J
J
Allen
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004806:Ependymoma / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000601:surgery; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors