Outcomes of malignant CNS ependymomas: an examination of 2408 cases through the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database (1973-2005).
BACKGROUND
Determine the role of surgery and radiation therapy for patients with malignant CNS ependymomas.


METHODS
The Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database (1973-2005) was queried.


RESULTS
Overall, a total of 2408 cases of malignant ependymomas were identified. Of these, 2132 cases (88.5%) were identified as WHO grade II ependymomas and 276 cases (11.5%) as WHO grade III (anaplastic) ependymomas. The annual incidence of ependymomas was approximately 1.97 cases per million in 2005. Overall median survival for all patients was 230 mo, with a significant difference between women and men (262 mo versus196 mo, respectively) (P=0.004). Median age at diagnosis was 37 y among females and 34 y in males. Patients who successfully underwent surgical resection had a considerably longer median survival (237 mo versus 215 mo, P<0.001) as well as a significantly improved five-year survival (72.4% versus 52.6%, P<0.001). Univariate analysis demonstrated that age, gender, ethnicity, primary tumor site, WHO grade and surgical resection were significant predictors of improved survival for ependymoma patients. Multivariate analysis identified that a WHO grade III tumor, male gender, patient age, intracranial tumor locations and failure to undergo surgical resection were independent predictors of poorer outcomes. Multivariate analysis of partially resection cases revealed that lack of radiation was a sign of poor prognosis (HR 1.748, P=0.024).


CONCLUSIONS
Surgical extirpation of ependymomas is associated with significantly improved patient survival. For partially resected tumors, radiation therapy provides significant survival benefit.
Rodríguez
Dayron
D
Division of Surgical Oncology, DeWitt Daughtry Family Department of Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida 33136, USA.
Cheung
Michael C
MC
Housri
Nadine
N
Quinones-Hinojosa
Alfredo
A
Camphausen
Kevin
K
Koniaris
Leonidas G
LG
D000328:Adult; D016543:Central Nervous System Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000601:surgery*; D004806:Ependymoma / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018426:SEER Program; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology