Primary filum terminale ependymoma: a series of 16 cases

Filum terminale ependymomas are slow growing tumors of the cauda equina with a high incidence in young adults. Although a complete microsurgical resection can lead to a cure, recurrence is not uncommon. Sixteen cases of filum terminale ependymomas treated at the Instituto de Neurologia de Curitiba were analyzed. Eleven patients were females and 5 males, their age ranging from 7 to 84 years. Symptoms and signs included lumbar pain (31.25%), radicular pain (56.25%) and neurological deficits (12.5%). In three cases, patients had previously undergone surgery in other hospitals. All were tested through MRI and were operated on. Two underwent a laminoplasty and 14 a laminectomy. The last 8 patients of this series had neuro-physiological monitoring during surgery. In all patients a total microsurgical resection was achieved. Histologically, 2 cases were cellular ependymomas and 14 cases myxopapillary ependymomas. There was no recurrence during a 2 to 84 month follow-up period.

Bibliographic Details

Main Authors:	Meneses,Murilo S., Leal,André Giacomelli, Periotto,Larissa B., Milano,Jerônimo Buzetti, Coelho-Net,Maurício, Sobral,Ana Cristina, Ramina,Ricardo
Format:	Digital revista
Language:	English
Published:	Academia Brasileira de Neurologia - ABNEURO 2008
Online Access:	http://old.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0004-282X2008000400017
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