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Subependymoma revisited: clinicopathological evaluation of 83 cases

  • Clinical-Patient Studies
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Journal of Neuro-Oncology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Object

Subependymomas are rare ependymal neoplasms. To date, a large clinicopathologic study of these benign neoplasms treated with modern neurosurgical techniques has not been reported.

Methods

Eighty-three cases of subependymoma were retrieved from the files of the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology. Clinicopathological features were reviewed; chromogenic in situ hybridization analysis for chromosome 22 was performed (n = 8), and patient follow-up was obtained (n = 34). Overall, the patients included 68 males and 15 females, 1.5 to 85 years of age (mean, 51.0 years). Twenty-seven cases were discovered at autopsy and the remaining were surgical specimens (n = 56). Tumors arose in the posterior fossa (n = 43), lateral ventricles (n = 37), spinal cord (2) and only one arose in the temporal horn. Tumors ranged in size from 2.0 mm to 60 mm in greatest dimension (mean, 23.0 mm). Eighteen-percent (15/83) of subependymomas exhibited a mixed histologic pattern; that is, subependymoma together with another glial tumor. The most common mixture (13/15) was subependymoma and ependymoma. Surgical excision was used in all symptomatic patients; 10 patients received radiation. Four patients developed a recurrence due to incomplete excision. All patients were without evidence of disease at the last follow-up: alive (n = 28) or dead (n = 8).

Conclusions

Age is the only variable found to be significantly associated with survival. Currently, surgical methods result in an excellent long-term clinical outcome. Subependymomas do not appear to be associated with NF2 mutations.

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Author information

Author notes

  1. Ana Crespo

    Present address: Department of Radiology, Hospital Universitario Clínica Puerta de Hierro, Madrid, Spain

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departments of Neuropathology and Ophthalmic Pathology, Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, Washington, DC, 20306-6000, USA

    Elisabeth J. Rushing

  2. Department of Neurosurgery, National Capitol Consortium, Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Bethesda, MD, USA

    Patrick B. Cooper & James Ecklund

  3. Laboratory of Pathology, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA

    Martha Quezado & Maria Begnami

  4. Department of Radiologic Pathology, Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, Washington, DC, 20306-6000, USA

    Ana Crespo

  5. Departments of Radiology and Radiological Sciences, Uniformed University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD, USA

    James G. Smirniotopoulos

  6. Preventive Medicine and Biometrics, Uniformed University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD, USA

    Cara Olsen

  7. Department of Pathology, Children’s Hospital National Medical Center, Washington, DC, USA

    Mariarita Santi

Authors
  1. Elisabeth J. Rushing
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  2. Patrick B. Cooper
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  3. Martha Quezado
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  4. Maria Begnami
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  5. Ana Crespo
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  6. James G. Smirniotopoulos
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  7. James Ecklund
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  8. Cara Olsen
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  9. Mariarita Santi
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Elisabeth J. Rushing.

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Rushing, E.J., Cooper, P.B., Quezado, M. et al. Subependymoma revisited: clinicopathological evaluation of 83 cases. J Neurooncol 85, 297–305 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11060-007-9411-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11060-007-9411-6

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