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.
Hukin
J
J
Department of Neurology, Beth Israel Medical Center, New York, N.Y., USA.
Epstein
F
F
Lefton
D
D
Allen
J
J
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