Recent Advances in the Classification and Treatment of Ependymomas
— Categories: Ependymoma Research Articles Posted on December 5, 2017
Ependymomas are rare neuroepithelial primary central nervous system (CNS) tumors that affect children and adult patients in which they make up 1.8% of all primary CNS tumors. In this article, authors review the classification, pathology and current clinical approaches.
Traditionally, ependymomas have been classified based on their histological appearance. However, the basis of clinical behavior of ependymal tumors is not clearly understood. Recent advances in molecular profiling have challenged the notion to rely solely on histological grading to plan treatment. It is becoming increasingly clear that age, location, as well as genetic markers play a major role in stratifying treatment and predicting survival.
The goal of this article is to outline the implications of the new WHO classification for ependymoma and review the pathology of the underlying tumor and current clinical approaches to decrease morbidity and improve survival in adult patients with ependymoma.