Cerebellopontine angle ependymoma in a 2-year- old child

Abstract

The management of cerebellopontine angle (CPA) ependymoma in children below 3 years of age is challenging. In addition to the rare occurrence of disease, the difficulty also lies in achieving gross total resection and providing radiotherapy in this subset of patients. We describe a case of CPA ependymoma in a 2-year-old child. Gross total excision was achieved followed by administration of radiotherapy. In this article, a review of literature for this rare entity and the difficulties faced in the surgery and adjuvant treatment has been discussed.

Keywords: Cerebellopontine angle; children; ependymoma.

Figure 1

(a) Axial T1-weighted image showing iso-hypointense lesion in the right cerebellopontine (CP) angle. (b) Axial T2-weighted image showing the extra-axial hyperintense lesion in the CP angle. (c and d) Contrast axial image showing the enhancing lesion with cystic areas compressing the brain stem and fourth ventricle. (e) Sagittal contrast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) section showing the extent of lesion. (f) Coronal contrast MRI section showing the extent of lesion. (g) Axial contrast MRI showing gross total excision and opened fourth ventricle. (h) Axial contrast MRI showing gross total excision and the foramen of Luschka is clear