This is a type of rare tumor developing in the brain or the spinal cord that can affect both the adults and the children. Tumors that develop in the main cells of the brain or the spinal cord (glial cells) are known as gliomas. Ependymoma is the tumor that develops from a type of glial cells known as ependymal cells which line the fluid-filled spaces in the brain and the center of the spinal cord. Hence, the ependymoma can develop in any part of the brain or the spinal cord containing the ependymal cells. As with most types of cancer, the cause of ependymoma is not known.
Symptoms
This is a slow-growing tumor and the symptoms also develop gradually over a period of several months. The symptoms are based on the location of the tumor in the brain and the spinal cord. The initial symptom of ependymoma is the raised intracranial pressure that can be caused by the tumor, swelling around the tumor or the accumulation of fluid that envelops the brain and the spinal cord (cerebrospinal fluid). Additional symptoms of the brain tumor can include headaches, seizures, weakness of the limbs, changes in personality and coordination problem. When the tumor develops in the spinal cord, the initial symptom is the pain in the neck or the back, weakness of the limbs and abnormalities of the bladder control.
Diagnosis
Usually, the diagnosis is done after the individual experience symptoms. The physical examination can evaluate the nervous system problems by assessing the reflexes, the feeling in the limbs and signs of pressure on the brain by checking the optic nerve. Some of the neurologic problems are identified with the MRI scan that determines the location of the tumor on the brain or the spinal cord. The additional imaging tests may not be required as ependymoma does not spread beyond the central nervous system. A lumbar puncture may be necessary sometimes if the tumor is suspected to have spread into the cerebrospinal fluid.
Treatment
The treatment includes the surgery or a radiation therapy. The surgery removes the tumor as the initial process of treatment while the radiation therapy uses beams of x-rays or gamma rays aimed at the tumor which can destroy and shrink it. Chemotherapy is the treatment of cancer using drugs with potential side-effects include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, hair loss and a decrease in blood counts. As ependymomas can regrow or recur, it is important to have routine check-ups and MRIs. The regrowth usually develops in the same spot as the initial tumor although it is possible for it to develop anywhere within the central nervous system.
References
https://cern-foundation.org/?page_id=146
