Pure cortical supratentorial extraventricular ependymoma

Area of Science:

• Neuro-oncology
• Neurosurgery
• Pediatric oncology

Background:

• Ependymomas are tumors arising from ependymal cells, typically located in the infratentorial region or intraventricularly within the brain.
• Supratentorial and purely cortical extraventricular ependymomas represent an exceedingly rare subtype, with limited documented cases in medical literature.

Observation:

• A 15-year-old male presented with a left frontal cortical ependymoma, a highly unusual location for this type of brain tumor.
• The lesion was surgically excised with gross total resection, achieving complete removal of the tumor.

Findings:

• This case contributes to the scarce literature on supratentorial, extraventricular ependymomas, specifically highlighting a cortical location.
• The successful gross total excision of the cortical ependymoma in this adolescent patient was achieved without the need for adjuvant radiotherapy.

Implications:

• This case underscores the importance of considering rare tumor presentations and locations in neurosurgical practice.
• Further research into the specific characteristics and treatment outcomes of cortical ependymomas may inform future clinical management strategies.
• The successful surgical management without radiotherapy in this instance may suggest potential for less aggressive treatment approaches in select cases of rare ependymomas.