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Ependymal
tumors
Moynihan TJ
Department of Medical Oncology, Mayo Clinic, 200 First Street SW,
Rochester, MN 55905, USA. moynihan.timothy@mayo.edu
Ependymal tumors are rare malignancies that arise from the cells that line the
ventricles and central canal of the spinal cord.
Although they are more common
in children, adults may also be effected by ependymal tumors.
Prognosis is
dependent on tumor location, histology, especially for myxopapillary tumors that
tend to occur in the lumbar spine, extent of surgical resection, and stage of
disease.
Standard therapy consists of complete resection when feasible.
The
exact role of adjuvant radiotherapy in patients with radiographically confirmed
complete resection is poorly defined.
Patients with known residual disease may
benefit from local radiation therapy, but the extent of radiation field and
total dose are controversial.
Even in patients treated with involved field
radiotherapy, most relapses occur within the original tumor bed, thus local
control remains the biggest obstacle to effective therapy.
Chemotherapy has
little impact against this tumor and has no role in the adjuvant setting,
outside of a well designed clinical trial, with the possible exception of
children younger than 5 years in an effort to delay radiation.
A minority of
patients may respond to one of several chemotherapy regimens at the time of
recurrence, but the impact of this therapy is limited.
Newer treatment
strategies are needed.
PMID: 14585232 [PubMed - in process]
Source:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=14585232
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