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Recurrence of spinal ependymoma. Risk factors and long-term survival
L Cervoni1, P Celli, A Fortuna
1Department of Neurological Sciences and Neurosurgery, La Sapienza University of Rome, Italy.
Study Design:
A study was conducted on 78 patients with spinal ependymoma. The authors divided the patients in two groups.
Objectives:
The aim was to elicit the risk factors for recurrence and the fate of patients who underwent second operations.
Summary Of Background Data:
Group A is made up of 59 patients with no signs of recurrence at follow-up (median 14 years), and group B is made up of 19 patients who had undergone second operations because of relapses (follow-up median 12 years).
Methods:
The clinical and therapeutic characteristics and survival of the two groups were compared statistically.
Result:
Analysis of the series shows that the most important points in predicting recurrence are length of clinical history (P < 0.05), gross appearance of the tumor at first operation (P < 0.05), and type of excision (P < 0.001).
Conclusion:
These factors proved to be closely interrelated. In the event of recurrence, spinal ependymoma has an adverse prognosis.