title: Rare giant cell ependymoma in an octogenarian. Case report and review of the literature.
abstract: Ependymomas are glial tumors that occur most often in children. In adults, ependymomas most often appear in the spinal cord. The World Health Organization recognizes several rare ependymoma subtypes, including the giant cell ependymoma of the terminal filum. The authors describe an unusual case of a posterior fossa giant cell ependymoma in an 89-year-old man presenting with vertigo and disequilibrium. Only seven cases of this tumor have been reported in the literature to date. The authors discuss the clinical presentation, radiological findings, pathological considerations, and surgical intervention in this patient and review the relevant literature.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, National Capital Consortium, Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington, DC 20306-6000, USA.
authors.forename: Patrick B
authors.initials: PB
authors.lastname: Cooper
authors.forename: Matthew
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Katus
authors.forename: Leon
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Moores
authors.forename: Dennis
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Geyer
authors.forename: James G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Smirniotopoulos
authors.forename: Glenn D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Sandberg
authors.forename: Elisabeth J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Rushing
mesh_terms: D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002528:Cerebellar Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D002531:Cerebellum / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D003388:Cranial Fossa, Posterior / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D004806:Ependymoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009460:Neurologic Examination; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D004856:Postural Balance / Q000502:physiology; D019292:Skull Base Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014717:Vertigo / Q000209:etiology