Natural progression of an unresected supratentorial ependymoma.
Ependymomas are rare gliomas that have been associated with a poor outcome despite aggressive therapy including surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy. We present a case report of a 16-year-old male with an untreated supratentorial ependymoma that lay dormant for 15 years without significant morbidity. Supratentorial ependymomas are thought to have a better outcome than infratentorial ependymomas, primarily because of the increased likelihood of achieving a gross total resection in the supratentorial space. Our case report suggests that the improved outcome may be due in part to the biologically benign nature of some supratentorial ependymomas. This highly unusual case illustrates the unpredictable heterogeneity of pediatric ependymomas.
Wang
Helen C
HC
Division of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children, Nemours Children's Clinic, Wilmington, DE 19803, USA.
Hertzog
James H
JH
O'Donnell
Hugh D
HD
Walter
Andrew W
AW
D000293:Adolescent; D018450:Disease Progression; D004806:Ependymoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015173:Supratentorial Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery