Are all ependymoma malignant?

Are all ependymoma malignant?

Is ependymoma cancer? All grades of ependymoma tumors are considered cancer. Like other primary brain and spinal cord tumors, these cancers are different in that they tend not to spread to other parts of the body, but can recur and require treatment. As with other cancers – some can be cured but others cannot.

Why does ependymoma recur?

Cancer recurs because small areas of tumor cells may remain undetected in the body. Over time, these cells may increase in number until they show up on test results or cause signs or symptoms.

Is there a cure for ependymoma?

The first treatment for an ependymoma is surgery, if possible. The goal of surgery is to obtain tissue to determine the tumor type and to remove as much tumor as possible without causing more symptoms for the person. After surgery, there is no standard treatment for ependymomas.

What causes ependymoma tumors?

An anaplastic ependymoma is thought to be caused by genetic changes that cause cells of the central nervous system to grow more quickly than they normally do. This causes a tumor to develop. When the cells grow very quickly and become unusually shaped, the tumor is known as an anaplastic ependymoma.

Is it possible for an ependymoma to recur?

Recurrence. Even after the best treatment, ependymomas can regrow or recur. There is no way to predict which patients are more likely to have tumor recurrence. For this reason, routine check-ups and MRIs are highly recommended. Most commonly, the regrowth occurs in the same spot as the first tumor.

What kind of cancer is an ependymoma tumor?

Is ependymoma cancer? All grades of ependymoma tumors are considered cancer. Like other primary brain and spinal cord tumors, these cancers are different in that they tend not to spread to other parts of the body, but can recur and require treatment.

What is the prognosis for a spinal ependymoma?

Prognosis by tumor location in adults with spinal ependymomas Spinal ependymomas along different regions of spinal axis have different characteristics and clinical behaviors. Tumor grade, extent of resection, and PFS varied by tumor location (upper vs lower spinal regions), while OS did not.

How is an ependymoma diagnosed in the CNS?

An ependymoma is a primary central nervous system (CNS) tumor. This means it begins in the brain or spinal cord. To get an accurate diagnosis, a piece of tumor tissue will be removed during surgery, if possible. A neuropathologist should then review the tumor tissue.