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Persistent posterior fossa ependymomas. Two case reports with unusual long survival
Clinical Neurology and Neurosurgery
|January 1, 1975
Summary
Long-term survival is possible after partial removal of posterior fossa ependymoma, even with persistent tumor tissue. Autopsy confirmed residual tumor in patients surviving over two decades post-surgery.
Area of Science:
- Neuro-oncology
- Surgical Oncology
- Pathology
Background:
- Posterior fossa ependymomas are a type of brain tumor.
- Surgical resection is a primary treatment modality.
- Long-term outcomes for incompletely resected tumors are variable.
Observation:
- Two patients underwent partial surgical excision for posterior fossa ependymoma.
- These patients survived for extended periods: 33 years and 21 years, respectively.
- Autopsy revealed persistent tumor tissue in the posterior fossa for both individuals.
Findings:
- Partial surgical excision of posterior fossa ependymoma can lead to long-term survival.
- Residual tumor tissue does not necessarily preclude decades of survival.
- Autopsy confirmation of persistent tumor highlights the challenges in complete resection.
Implications:
- This suggests that aggressive, complete resection may not always be necessary for favorable long-term outcomes in select ependymoma cases.
- Further research into the biological behavior of residual ependymoma is warranted.
- Treatment strategies may need to consider quality of life and long-term surveillance over complete eradication.