Brain Tumors Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Brain Tumors, including details on symptoms, benign and malignant tumors, gliomas, screening, treatment.

Intraventricular tanycytic ependymoma: case report and review of the literature.

Ragel BT, Townsend JJ, Arthur AS, Couldwell WT

Department of Neurosurgery, University of Utah Health Sciences Center, Salt Lake City, UT 84132-2303, USA.

OBJECTIVE AND IMPORTANCE: Tanycytic ependymomas are a rare ependymoma subtype showing a marked predilection for the spine, with only a few reports of supratentorial tumors. We present a case of a tanycytic ependymoma arising from the lateral and third ventricle. CLINICAL PRESENTATION: The patient was a 55-year-old woman who complained of intermittent, progressively worsening dysequilibrium for several months. The neurologic exam in the neurosurgery clinic was without deficit. INTERVENTION: MRI of the brain revealed a 3-cm, minimally enhancing lesion centered in the superior aspect of the third ventricle. The tumor involved the left wall of the third ventricle, the septum pellucidum, and the anterior horn of the left lateral ventricle. Surgery was recommended for diagnosis and to prevent obstructive hydrocephalus. A gross total resection was achievedvia a transcallosal approach. Postoperatively, the patient remained neurologically intact. CONCLUSION: The long-term prognosis for tanycytic ependymomas is the same or slightly better than for other ependymoma subtypes. The current treatment plan includes gross total resection followed by radiologic surveillance. Repeat resection or radiation treatment will be recommended in the event of recurrence.

Published 3 February 2005 in J Neurooncol, 71(2): 189-93.
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