Supratentorial cortical ependymoma: case series and review of the literature

Abstract

Supratentorial cortical ependymoma (CE), a rare type of ependymoma, is located in the superficial cortex. We reported 11 patients (six female and five male) with CE. The age of the patients ranged from 2 to 63 years old with a median age of 47 years at the time of diagnosis. On MRI, enhancement was noted in all cases with solid appearance in six cases, and solid and cystic appearance in five cases. The frontal and parietal regions were the most common locations for CE. On histology, two were low-grade (WHO grade II) and nine were WHO grade III anaplastic ependymomas. Some tumors exhibited clear cell, spindle (tanycytic) and giant cell morphologies, as well as the classic ependymoma morphology. Dura-based tumor nodules and even tumor dissemination along the dura can be seen in CEs. Low grade CEs have a higher likelihood to present with seizures, a lower likelihood to cause brain edema, tumor recurrence and lower mortality than anaplastic ependymomas. While difficult, anaplastic CEs may be distinguished from glioblastoma by a clear interface between tumor and adjacent brain tissue, relative uniformity of tumor cell nuclei and immunopositivity for epithelial membrane antigen and/or CD99. As is the case for ependymomas in general, gross total resection is still the treatment of choice for CEs.

Keywords: anaplastic ependymoma; cortical ependymoma; recurrence; seizures; supratentorial ependymoma.