Affiliations: Department of Neurosurgery, Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate
Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow, India | Department of Neurology, Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate
Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow, India | Department of Pathology, Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate
Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow, India
Note: [] Correspondence: Raj Kumar, MD, Department of Neurosurgery,
Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow – 226014,
U.P. India, Tel.: +91 522 2668700, 2668800; Fax: +91 522 2668129, 2668017;
E-mail: rajkumar@sgpgi.ac.in
Abstract: Two cases of 6 years old and 20 years of ages were operated for
intramedullary anaplastic ependymomas. A gross total microsurgical excision of
their tumors was achieved in both the cases, barring the infiltrated nerve
roots of one case (6 years old, child). Standard doses of irradiation were
offered to both the cases following surgery. The dissemination of disease
occurred at six months and one year and 10 months duration in both. An
extensive spread of ependymoma involved full spinal cord and brain stem in the
first case, while malignant meningitis, mild hydrocephalus and a distal
recurrence occurred in another case. It was concluded that (1) anaplastic
ependymomas have high potential for dissemination anywhere in neuraxis (2)
dissemination may occur without a local recurrence of tumor at primary site (3)
gross total microsurgical excision and irradiation does not offer resistance to
dissemination.
