An ependymoma is a type of tumor that usually occurs in the brain or spinal cord. Since the brain and spinal cord are part of the central nervous system, ependymomas usually cause headaches and seizures. Also, ependymomas are primary tumors that start from ependymal cells, which means they arise within the substance of the brain or the spinal cord itself.
Typically, in the central nervous system, there are neurons and glial cells. The tumor often arises from glial cells, the cells that support the brain. These kinds of tumors are called gliomas.
Basically, ependymomas can happen in any level of the spinal cord, including the neck, the upper back, and the lower back.
As one of the most common spinal cord tumors, ependymomas are often slow growing and benign.
Besides, it can happen in both adults and children. But according to statistics, the disease is most commonly seen in young children.
Right now, the primary treatment the surgeon may recommend is surgery. In most cases, the tumors can be completely removed. If not, the surgeon may treat the patient with ependymomas with radiation therapy or chemotherapy to help to reduce the symptoms.
Ependymomas in the brain, as a rare type of tumor, account for 1.9% of all tumors diagnosed in adults who are over the age of 20. Every year, it is estimated that about 1,100 adults are diagnosed with the disease. Basically, adults in their 40s to 60s are most likely to develop the tumors. For children who are between the age of 0 to 14, ependymomas account for 5.7% of all tumors diagnosed. About 185 children that age are diagnosed with the condition each year. And for children who are between 15 to 19 years old, approximately 50 of them are diagnosed with ependymomas, representing 4% of all tumors diagnosed. Overall, ependymomas affect both men and women. But in comparison, men have a higher risk of getting the disease. Moreover, ependymomas are more commonly seen in white people than black people. As for ependymomas in the spinal cord, roughly, 690 people are diagnosed with the disease annually. On the whole, ependymomas in the spinal cord account for 20.5% of all tumors diagnosed in adults who are over the age of 20 and 21.6% of all tumor diagnosed in children between 0 and 19 years old.
Right now, the exact cause of ependymomas is still unknown. The tumors can develop in people of all ages, races, and sexes. But researchers hold the opinion that a genetic condition called neurofibromatosis type 2 may be the underlying cause. Also, there are studies that suggest environmental factors may also play a part in ependymomas. Researches on this topic are still ongoing.
The signs and symptoms of ependymomas may take as long as months or even years to develop because ependymomas are slow growing. Common symptoms of ependymomas may include:
Depending on the specific location of the tumors, ependymomas may cause different symptoms for different individuals. If you have the above-described symptoms, go to the hospital and get an accurate diagnosis.
If ependymomas are suspected, the following tests may be necessary for the doctor to make a diagnosis:
Treatment plans for ependymomas may include the following:
Keywords: ependymoma.