Intracranial ependymona in adult patients: long-term results of postoperative irradiation

Abstract

Twenty-nine adult patients with intracranial ependymoma received postoperative radiotherapy with curative intent between 1978 and 1993. The primary site was located above tentorium in 17 cases and below in 12. In 17 patients the tumours were classified as low-grade. Most patients with high-grade lesions received radiotherapy to the craniospinal axis, low-grade tumours received a more limited treatment. Actuarial survival rates at 5 and 10 years were 59% and 51% in the whole group respectively. Histologically actuarial survival rates at 5 and 10 years were 50% and 41% for high-grade tumours, and 65% and 57% for low-grade lesions respectively. This difference was not statistically significant at 0,05 level.

The primary site was the most common pattern of failure.