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Treatment /
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 11 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.
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:
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. -
Tumor
histology (how the tumor cells look under a microscope). -
The
age of the child when the tumor was found.
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Treatment
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