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General Information About Childhood Ependymoma
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Childhood ependymoma is a disease in which malignant (cancer)
cells form in the tissues of the brain and spinal cord.
The brain controls vital functions such as memory and learning, the
senses (hearing, sight, smell, taste, and touch), and emotion. The spinal cord
is made up of bundles of nerve fibers that connect the brain with nerves in
most parts of the body.
About 1 in 10 childhood brain
tumors are
ependymomas. Although cancer is rare
in children, brain tumors are the most common type of childhood
cancer other than
leukemia and
lymphoma.
This summary refers to the treatment of primary brain tumors (tumors that begin in the
brain). Treatment of metastatic
brain tumors, which are
tumors formed by cancer cells that
begin in other parts of the body and spread to the brain, is not discussed in
this summary.
Brain tumors can occur in both children and adults; however,
treatment for children may be different than treatment for adults. (Refer to
the PDQ treatment summary on Adult Brain Tumors for more information.)
The cause of most childhood brain tumors is unknown.
The symptoms of childhood ependymoma vary and often depend on
the child’s age and where the tumor is located.
These symptoms may be
caused by childhood ependymoma or other conditions. A doctor should be
consulted if any of the following problems occur:
- Frequent headaches.
- Seizures.
- Frequent nausea and vomiting.
- Loss of balance or difficulty walking.
Tests that examine the brain and spinal cord are used to detect
(find) childhood ependymoma.
The following tests and procedures may be used:
- CT scan (CAT
scan): A procedure that makes a series of detailed pictures of areas inside the
body, taken from different angles. The pictures are made by a computer
linked to an x-ray machine. A dye may be injected into a vein or swallowed to help the organs or tissues show up more clearly. This
procedure is also called computed tomography, computerized tomography, or
computerized axial tomography.
- MRI (magnetic
resonance imaging): A procedure that uses a magnet, radio waves, and a computer to make a series of detailed pictures of areas inside the brain and spinal cord. A substance called gadolinium is injected into the patient through a vein. The gadolinium collects around the cancer cells so they show up brighter in the picture. This procedure is also called nuclear magnetic resonance imaging (NMRI).
Childhood ependymoma is diagnosed and removed in surgery. If a brain tumor is suspected, a biopsy is done by removing part of the skull and using a needle to remove a sample of the brain tissue. A pathologist views the tissue under a microscope to look for cancer cells. If cancer cells are found, the doctor will remove as much tumor as safely possible during the same surgery.
Certain factors affect prognosis (chance of
recovery).
The prognosis (chance of recovery) depends on: - Amount of tumor removed during surgery.
- The age of the child when the
tumor was found.
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