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Long term outcome with post-operative radiation therapy for spinal canal ependymoma

  • Clinical–patient studies
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Journal of Neuro-Oncology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

A retrospective study was performed to evaluate the long term efficacy and safety of post-operative radiation therapy in the management of spinal canal ependymoma at our institution.

Methods and materials

Between 1954 and 1997, 22 patients with spinal canal ependymoma were treated with post-operative radiotherapy at our institution. The median age at diagnosis was 34.7 years (range 9.8–56.1 years). All patients underwent open biopsy with histologic diagnosis: 13 patients (59%) had ependymoma (WHO Grade II) and 9 patients (41%) had myxopapillary ependymoma (WHO Grade I). The median tumor size was 4.0 cm (range 1.5–15.0 cm). Twenty patients received subtotal resection and 2 patients received gross-total resection. Median radiation dose was 45.0 Gy.

Results

The median follow up for surviving patients was 11.4 years (range 0.6–37.0 years). An 80% progression-free-survival (PFS) was observed for all patients at 5-, 10- and 15-year endpoints. All recurrences were within 3 years of treatment. The 5-, 10- and 15-year overall-survivals (OS) for all patients were 85%, 78% and 64%, respectively. Patients with tumors larger than 6.0 cm at time of presentation demonstrated 5- and 10-year PFS of 58.3% compared to 92.3% for patients with tumors 6.0 cm or smaller (P = 0.047). There was no significant correlation between tumor size and OS.

Conclusions

Post-operative radiation after subtotal resection is safe and offers durable tumor control and long term patient survival.

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Acknowledgement

The authors would like to thank Ms. Elaine Pirkey for assistance with manuscript preparation

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiation Oncology, Washington University School of Medicine, 4921 Parkview Place, Lower Level, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA

    Sasha H. Wahab, Joseph R. Simpson, Jeff M. Michalski & David B. Mansur

  2. Alvin J. Siteman Cancer Center, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA

    Sasha H. Wahab, Joseph R. Simpson, Jeff M. Michalski & David B. Mansur

Authors
  1. Sasha H. Wahab
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  2. Joseph R. Simpson
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  3. Jeff M. Michalski
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  4. David B. Mansur
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to David B. Mansur.

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Wahab, S.H., Simpson, J.R., Michalski, J.M. et al. Long term outcome with post-operative radiation therapy for spinal canal ependymoma. J Neurooncol 83, 85–89 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11060-006-9310-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11060-006-9310-2

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