[Ependymomas: Clinical, epidemiological and clinico-pathological findings of 22 cases]

Ependymomas are composed of neoplastic ependymal cells, affecting mainly children and young adults. We report the clinical and pathological findings of 22 cases of ependymomas. Fourteen patients were males and 8 were females. The ages ranged between 1 and 58 years, with a mean of 24.63 years. The symptoms reflected the growth and topography of the tumours; muscle weakness (59.1%), gait disorders (36.3%), sensitive disorders (36.3%), hyperreflexia and intracranial hypertension syndrome were the most frequent symptoms. Ten tumours affected the medulla, 7 the cerebral hemispheres, 2 the cerebral ventricles and 1 brain stem. Seven patients were submitted total resection of the tumor, from which one received adjuvant radiotherapy. 15 other patients were submitted to partial resection; from which 4 received adjuvant radiotherapy, 3 adjuvant chemotherapy and 1 chemotherapy and radiotherapy. The recurrence rate was 18.2%. These results are similar with the literature and may contribute to further understanding the biological behavior of these tumours.