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Journal of Pediatric Neurology 2005; 03(04): 261-267
DOI: 10.1055/s-0035-1557286
Case Report
Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart – New York

Dissemination of intramedullary anaplastic ependymomas

Raj Kumar
a   Department of Neurosurgery, Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow, India
,
Sanjeev Jha
b   Department of Neurology, Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow, India
,
Narendra Krishnani
c   Department of Pathology, Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow, India
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Publication History

25 February 2005

03 May 2005

Publication Date:
29 July 2015 (online)

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Abstract

Two cases of 6 years old and 20 years of ages were operated for intramedullary anaplastic ependymomas. A gross total microsurgical excision of their tumors was achieved in both the cases, barring the infiltrated nerve roots of one case (6 years old, child). Standard doses of irradiation were offered to both the cases following surgery. The dissemination of disease occurred at six months and one year and 10 months duration in both. An extensive spread of ependymoma involved full spinal cord and brain stem in the first case, while malignant meningitis, mild hydrocephalus and a distal recurrence occurred in another case. It was concluded that (1) anaplastic ependymomas have high potential for dissemination anywhere in neuraxis (2) dissemination may occur without a local recurrence of tumor at primary site (3) gross total microsurgical excision and irradiation does not offer resistance to dissemination.

Keywords

Intramedullary anaplastic ependymoma - dissemination - recurrence - metastasis