Intracranial ependymomas in children: A critical review of prognostic factors and a plea for cooperation

✍ Scribed by Bouffet, E.; Perilongo, G.; Canete, A.; Massimino, M.

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1998
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 105 KB
• Volume: 30
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0098-1532
• DOI: 10.1002/(sici)1096-911x(199806)30:6<319::aid-mpo1>3.0.co;2-h

✦ Synopsis

Background. Current controversies in pediatric intracranial ependymoma include histologic categorization and management. Most of our knowledge of this disease comes from single-institution reports. Methods. A literature search was done, covering the period 1976-1996. The aim of this review is to analyze the prognostic factors reported in the literature over the last 20 years. Results. Forty-five series were reviewed, including more than 1,400 children. The largest series reported on 92 patients, and the accrual rate ranged from 0.32-12 patients per year. None of the prognostic factors reported achieved a consensus throughout the different series. Histology remains a major issue, and the range in the incidence of anaplastic ependymo mas (7-89%) highlights the diffi-culty in agreeing on a histological grading system. The role of surgery on the outcome seems to be determinant. Recent series based on homogeneous imaging-documented extents of resection strongly support the benefit of postoperative radiotherapy. The lack of a proven, effective chemotherapy regimen precludes its use except in prospective pilot studies. Conclusions. Limited information is available from single-institution reports in ependymoma. Only large national or international studies can provide enough information to allow a multivariate analysis of the prognostic factors, and thus lead to new therapeutic proposals.