Ependymomas: results of radiation treatment

Between 1958 and 1980, 102 patients with the diagnosis of ependymoma were seen at the Princess Margaret Hospital. Eleven patients had recurrent disease or were treated elsewhere and 91 patients received radiation therapy following their primary surgical procedure. Fifty patients had cranial tumors and 41 had spinal tumors. The overall survival at five years was 60% and at 10 years was 54%. Those patients with spinal tumours did significantly better with a five year survival of 83% versus 43% for the group with cranial tumors. The other prognostic factors included tumor grade, functional status, age of the patient and interval from surgery to radiation. The most common site of relapse was at the original tumor location, but five patients did show spread through the craniospinal axis. An analysis of dose and the volume treated is made and recommendations for therapy given.