Ependymoma is a tumor that grows in the ventricles of the brain and spinal cord, causing the patient to have headaches, nausea, vomiting in the morning, seizures, and balance problems. If it occurs in children or infants, it can cause hydrocephalus, which results in a larger-than-normal head.
Ependymoma is divided into several types depending on the location and growth of the tumor cells, but it is rare. At present, the cause of its occurrence is still unclear, and the treatment method depends on the location of the tumor .
Symptoms of Ependymoma
Ependymoma patients have tumors in the brain and spinal cord, which cause increased pressure in the skull. As a result, patients often have headaches when waking up, nausea, frequent vomiting in the morning, no energy, irritability, problems with walking and balance due to abnormal vision, some cases have seizures, and if it happens to children or infants, it will cause the head to be abnormally large due to hydrocephalus.
In addition, the speed of tumor growth depends on the severity and type of each type of ependymoma, as follows:
- Subependymomas are tumors that arise in the ventricles of the brain, grow slowly, and are most commonly found in adults and elderly males.
- Myxopapillary Ependymomas are tumors that usually occur in the spinal cord, grow slowly, and are more common in young people.
- Ependymomas are tumors that arise within the brain and are the most common of all types.
- Anaplastic Ependymomas These tumors grow rapidly and occur in the brain and skull.
Ependymoma tumors are most commonly found in the brain in children and in the spine in people over 12 years of age and adults, causing back pain, pain, and numbness in the legs.
Causes of Ependymoma
The exact cause of ependymoma is unknown , but it is thought that abnormalities in the cells lining the brain cavities that develop into this type of tumor may be related to genetic diseases such as neurofibromatosis type 2. Ependymoma is more common in men than women, especially in infants and young children, but can also occur in adults.
Diagnosis of Ependymoma
The doctor will start the diagnosis by asking about the medical history, performing a physical examination to observe the body’s responses, coordination between the organs, facial and eye muscle movements, muscle strength, and additional examination methods such as:
- An MRI scan creates a virtual image of the brain using an electromagnetic field and may inject dye into the area around the tumor cells to provide a clearer picture.
- A CT scan is an X-ray that shows a cross-sectional image of the brain, allowing doctors to see a more detailed image of the brain than a conventional X-ray.
- A biopsy is performed in which the doctor identifies the location of the tumor and removes a sample of tissue for examination in a laboratory.
- Lumbar puncture is a procedure in which a sample of cerebrospinal fluid is removed for examination. It is used in cases where a patient may have cancer cells in the nervous system.
Ependymoma Treatment
Treatment depends on the patient’s age, location and severity of the tumor, and overall health. Most often, the main treatment for Ependymoma is to surgically remove as much of the tumor as possible. However, if the tumor occurs in an area that is difficult to operate on, such as the back of the brain near the brainstem, the tumor has spread widely, or surgery cannot completely remove the tumor, the doctor may use other treatments to help reduce the size of the tumor, such as radiation therapy and chemotherapy .
In cases where a patient has hydrocephalus, the doctor will insert a cerebrospinal fluid drainage tube to drain fluid from the brain into the abdominal cavity, reducing intracranial pressure and reducing the risk of complications that may occur to the patient’s nervous system and brain.
Complications of Ependymoma
Ependymoma can cause complications in patients, such as numbness in various parts of the body, weakness in arms and legs, paralysis, seizures, leakage of cerebrospinal fluid, changes in mood and behavior, etc.
Ependymoma Prevention
There are currently ways to prevent Ependymoma or other types of brain tumors. However, if someone in the family has a history of suffering from Neurofibromatosis Type 2, you should consult a specialist before planning to have children to assess the risk of Ependymoma in the fetus and receive advice on basic care, which will be information to consider when deciding to have children in the future.
