[Intracranial ependymomas. Experience with 86 cases]

The authors report a series of 86 intracranial ependymomas. The origin of the tumor was supratentorial in 53 cases, infratentorial in 33. All patients underwent surgery and most of them had also radiation therapy. The operative mortality rate was 25%. Five year survival rate was 31%. Better prognosis was recorded for low grade tumors. The location of the tumor, total or incomplete surgical excision had no influence concerning long-term survival. The five year survival rate for the 28 children in the series was 42%, against 19% for adults. Local recurrence occurred in 39% of patients, and spinal metastases were recorded in only 2 cases. The authors emphasize the need for systematic radiation therapy, with different protocols according to age of patient, location and histological type of tumor.