2Department of Pediatric Oncology, Akdeniz University Faculty of Medicine, Antalya-Turkey
3Department of Neurosurgery, Akdeniz University Faculty of Medicine, Antalya-Turkey DOI : 10.5505/tjo.2021.3378 OBJECTIVE
This study aimed to evaluate the effect of prognostic factors and treatment on survival in childhood intracranial ependymoma.
METHODS
In the past two decades, 28 patients with pediatric intracranial ependymoma who received postoperative
radiotherapy in our institute were evaluated statistically in terms of prognostic factors and survival.
Progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier
method. Possible prognostic factors, such as sex, histopathological grade, the extent of resection, tumor
location, spinal metastasis, and chemotherapy were also analyzed by log-rank test.
RESULTS
Median age at diagnosis was 4 years (range, 1-17 years). Eighteen patients had infratentorial tumor,
and 19 patients had Grade III tumor. Gross total resections (GTRs) were performed in 16 patients.
The median clinical follow-up time was 66.9 months (range, 8-253 months). The estimated 5-year PFS
and OS rates are 38% and 55%, respectively. The extent of resection was found the only prognostic
factor associated with improved PFS and OS. Other factors, such as gender, histopathological grade,
tumor location, spinal metastasis, and chemotherapy, showed no statistically significant effect on survival
outcomes.
CONCLUSION
A multidisciplinary approach is required in the management of pediatric intracranial ependymomas.
GTR is a crucial prognostic factor on survival. The lack of aggressive salvage treatments may result in
worse survival. Future trials are needed to investigate molecular classification and individualized treatment
algorithms.