Clinical analysis of 21 cases of spinal cord ependymoma : positive clinical results of gross total resection.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the clinical results of gross total resection in the surgical approach to spinal ependymoma.


METHODS
Between June 1995 and May 2009, 13 males and 8 females (mean age 34) diagnosed with intramedullary or extramedullary spinal ependymoma were surgically treated at our centre. The neurological and functional state of each patient were evaluated according to the modified McCormick scale.


RESULTS
The average follow-up duration was 54 months (ranging from 12 to 168 months). The locations of the lesions were: thoracic region (4, 19%), lumbar region (7, 34%), cervical region (4, 19%), cervicothoracic region (3, 14%) and conus medullaris (3, 14%). Four patients (19%) had deterioration of neurological function in the early postoperative period. The neurological function of three patients was completely recovered at the 6th postoperative month, while that of another patient was recovered at the 14th month. In the last assessment of neurological function, 20 patients (95%) were assessed as McCormick grade 1. No perioperative complications developed in any of our patients. In one patient's 24-month assessment, tumour recurrence was observed. Re-operation was not performed and the patient was taken under observation.


CONCLUSIONS
Two determinants of good clinical results after spinal ependymoma surgery are a gross total resection of the tumour and a good neurological condition before the operation. Although neurological deficits in the early postoperative period can develop as a result of gross total tumour resection, significant improvement is observed six months after the operation.
Kaner
Tuncay
T
Department of Neurosurgery, Pendik State Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
Sasani
Mehdi
M
Oktenoglu
Tunc
T
Solmaz
Bilgehan
B
Sarloglu
Ali Cetin
AC
Ozer
Ali Fahir
AF
Ependymoma; Functional outcome; Intramedullary ependymoma; Intramedullary tumour