Primary spinal myxopapillary ependymoma in the pediatric population: a study from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database

Extra-Neural Metastases of Late Recurrent Myxopapillary Ependymoma to Left Lumbar Paravertebral Muscles: Case Report and Review of the Literature

Ependymomas are commonly classified as low-grade tumors, although they may harbor a malignant behavior characterized by distant neural dissemination and spinal drop metastasis. Extra-CNS ependymoma metastases are extremely rare and only few cases have been reported in the lung, lymph nodes, pleura, mediastinum, liver, bone, and diaphragmatic, abdominal, and pelvic muscles. A review of the literature yielded 14 other case reports metastasizing outside the central nervous system, but to our knowledge, no studies describe metastasis in the paravertebral muscles. Herein, we report the case of a 39-year-old patient with a paraspinal muscles metastasis from a myxopapillary ependymoma. The neoplasm was surgically excised and histologically and molecularly analyzed. Both the analyses were consistent with the diagnosis of muscle metastases of myxopapillary ependymoma. The here-presented case report is first case in the literature of a paraspinal muscles metastasis of myxopapillary ependymoma.

Resection of disseminated recurrent myxopapillary ependymoma with more than 4-year follow-up: operative nuance for prolonged prone position. Illustrative case

BACKGROUND

Symptomatic disseminated myxopapillary ependymoma (MPE) in a young person presents a daunting challenge because the risks of prolonged prone positioning and spinal cord injury may outweigh the likelihood of attaining the benefit of gross total resection.

OBSERVATIONS

The authors reported the case of a 15-year-old girl with five discrete recurrent spinal cord ependymomas. The patient received a 25-hour surgical procedure for gross total resection of the tumors and fusion over an approximately 33-hour period. She experienced complete resolution of all preoperative neurological symptoms and subsequently received adjuvant radiation therapy. At 52 months after surgery, she was still experiencing neurologically intact, progression-free survival. This case illustrated one of the most extensive recurrent tumor resections for MPE with prolonged disease-free survival reported to date. It may also represent the longest prone position spinal case reported and was notable for a lack of any of the complications commonly associated with the prolonged prone position.

LESSONS

The authors discussed the complexity of surgical decision-making in a symptomatic patient with multiple disseminated metastases, technical considerations for resection of intradural and intramedullary spinal cord tumors, and considerations for avoiding complications during prolonged positioning necessary for spinal surgery.

Ependymoma: Evaluation and Management Updates

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

To review state of art and relevant advances in the molecular genetics and management of ependymomas of children and adults.

RECENT FINDINGS

Ependymomas may occur either in the brain or in the spinal cord. Compared with intracranial ependymomas, spinal ependymomas are less frequent and exhibit a better prognosis. The new WHO classification of CNS tumors of 2021 has subdivided ependymomas into different histomolecular subgroups with different outcome. The majority of studies have shown a major impact of extent of resection; thus, a complete resection must be performed, whenever possible, at first surgery or at reoperation. Conformal radiotherapy is recommended for grade 3 or incompletely resected grade II tumors. Proton therapy is increasingly employed especially in children to reduce the risk of neurocognitive and endocrine sequelae. Craniospinal irradiation is reserved for metastatic disease. Chemotherapy is not useful as primary treatment and is commonly employed as salvage treatment for patients failing surgery and radiotherapy. Standard treatments are still the mainstay of treatment: the discovery of new druggable pathways will hopefully increase the therapeutic armamentarium in the near future.

Clinically aggressive pediatric spinal ependymoma with novel MYC amplification demonstrates molecular and histopathologic similarity to newly described MYCN-amplified spinal ependymomas

Primary spinal cord tumors contribute to ≤ 10% of central nervous system tumors in individuals of pediatric or adolescent age. Among intramedullary tumors, spinal ependymomas make up ~ 30% of this rare tumor population. A twelve-year-old male presented with an intradural, extramedullary mass occupying the dorsal spinal canal from C6 through T2. Gross total resection and histopathology revealed a World Health Organization (WHO) grade 2 ependymoma. He recurred eleven months later with extension from C2 through T1-T2. Subtotal resection was achieved followed by focal proton beam irradiation and chemotherapy. Histopathology was consistent with WHO grade 3 ependymoma. Molecular profiling of the primary and recurrent tumors revealed a novel amplification of the MYC (8q24) gene, which was confirmed by fluorescence in situ hybridization studies. Although MYC amplification in spinal ependymoma is exceedingly rare, a newly described classification of spinal ependymoma harboring MYCN (2p24) amplification (SP-MYCN) has been defined by DNA methylation-array based profiling. These individuals typically present with a malignant progression and dismal outcomes, contrary to the universally excellent survival outcomes seen in other spinal ependymomas. DNA methylation array-based classification confidently classified this tumor as SP-MYCN ependymoma. Notably, among the cohort of 52 tumors comprising the SP-MYCN methylation class, none harbor MYC amplification, highlighting the rarity of this genomic amplification in spinal ependymoma. A literature review comparing our individual to reported SP-MYCN tumors (n = 26) revealed similarities in clinical, histopathologic, and molecular features. Thus, we provide evidence from a single case to support the inclusion of MYC amplified spinal ependymoma within the molecular subgroup of SP-MYCN.

Anaplastic myxopapillary ependymoma: A case report and review of literature

BACKGROUND

Myxopapillary ependymoma (MPE) is a pathological grade I tumor that arises in the filum terminale. MPE with anaplastic features is extremely rare, and only 5 cases have shown malignancy at the time of recurrence.

CASE SUMMARY

The patient (a 46-year-old woman) had undergone a MPE operation 30 years ago. After subtotal resection of the tumor located in L4-S1, it had a solid component that extended to the adjacent subcutaneous region. Histologically, the tumor consisted of a typical MPE with anaplastic features. The anaplastic areas of the tumor showed hypercellularity, a rapid mitotic rate, vascular proliferation, and connective tissue proliferation. Pleomorphic cells and atypical mitotic figures were occasionally observed. The MIB-1 index in this area was 12.3%. The immunohistochemical study showed immunoreactivity for vimentin, glial fibrillary acidic protein and S100. The morphological pattern and immunohistochemical profile were consistent with anaplastic MPE. The patient tolerated surgery well without new neurological deficits. She underwent local irradiation for the residual tumor and rehabilitation.

CONCLUSION

Although extremely rare, anaplastic MPE occurs in both pediatric and adult patients, similar to other ependymomas. At a minimum, close monitoring is recommended, given concerns about aggressive biological potential. In the future, further study is needed to determine the WHO classification criteria and genetic indicators of tumor progression. The possibility of malignant transformation of MPE should be taken into account, and patients with MPE should be treated with care and follow-up.

Pediatric Myxopapillary Ependymomas: A Clinicopathologic Evaluation

Myxopapillary ependymomas (MPEs) have an indolent clinical course, corresponding to World Health Organization Grade I. A total of 13 pediatric MPEs have been reported in the literature with "anaplastic features," including elevated proliferative activity (≥5 mitoses/10 high-power fields), necrosis, and microvascular proliferation. No consensus exists regarding the prognostic significance of such features. A retrospective clinicopathologic review of pediatric MPEs diagnosed between 1996 and 2018 at Mayo Clinic was performed. Totally, 8 pediatric MPEs (6 male; age: 7.52 to 16.88 y) were identified. Totally, 3 had disseminated disease at presentation. All patients underwent surgical resection (7 gross total; 1 subtotal). Totally, 5 cases harbored ≥5 mitoses/10 high-power fields (range: 5 to 9), 3 of which showed necrosis (2 with disseminated disease). Postsurgery, 2 patients received radiation; one with disseminated disease and another with increased mitotic activity/necrosis; neither has recurred (follow-up: 1.18 and 3.19 y). In all, 2 patients with disseminated disease, elevated mitotic activity, and necrosis had new metastatic disease/progression of nonresected metastatic foci (2.6 and 26.8 mo), received radiation therapy, and remain progression free (3.01 and 9.34 y). All patients are alive (median follow-up 1.31 y, range: 0.66 to 11.75). Among pediatric MPEs, the concurrent presence of elevated mitotic activity and necrosis may be associated with an aggressive clinical course, warranting closer surveillance and consideration of adjuvant therapies.

Outcome After Treatment of Spinal Ependymoma in Children and Adolescents: Long-Term Follow-up of a Single Consecutive Institutional Series of 33 Patients Treated Over Eight Decades

BACKGROUND

Long-term outcomes for pediatric patients treated for spinal ependymoma are unknown.

METHODS

We performed a retrospective analysis of outcome data from 33 children and young adults (0-22 years) who were operated on for a spinal ependymoma at our institution during the last 8 decades (1938-2019).

RESULTS

Nineteen patients are alive, with follow-up period up to 60 years. Twelve of them are tumor-free, and 7 are alive with disease. Fourteen patients are dead, 9 of them due to recurrent and/or progressive disease 1-56 years (median: 11 years) after the initial surgery. Four of the deceased patients were treated before 1948, 3 of them with excellent long-term survival for 62-66 years after the initial surgery. Tumor recurrence was observed in half of the patients, both local at the site of the primary tumor resection as well as widespread intraspinal presentations. Recurrences were observed within months but also occurred after up to 20 years after initial treatment. After the implementation of magnetic resonance imaging in 1987, details of recurrent disease became more easily demonstrated. Repeated resections were performed when the symptomatic spinal disease was in progress (n = 11). Furthermore, 2 patients have intracranial tumor manifestations, 1 of them underwent resection of a suprasellar tumor in 1991. Four deceased patients experienced aggressive extraspinal progressive disease requiring multiple surgeries, including pulmonary metastasis in 1 of them.

CONCLUSIONS

Pediatric spinal ependymomas can be treated with favorable results and functional outcome may be good even after more than half a century of follow-up. Nevertheless, unexpected and late recurrences may occur, and life-long follow-up is therefore recommended.

Outcomes following limited-volume proton therapy for multifocal spinal myxopapillary ependymoma

PURPOSE

Spinal myxopapillary ependymoma (MPE) often presents with a multifocal distribution, complicating attempts at resection. There remains no standard approach to irradiating these patients. We report disease control and toxicity in pediatric patients with multifocal spinal MPE treated with limited-volume proton therapy.

MATERIALS/METHODS

Twelve patients (≤21 years old) with multifocal spinal MPE were treated between 2009 and 2018 with limited-volume brain-sparing proton therapy. Median age was 13.5 years (range, 7-21). Radiotherapy was given as adjuvant therapy after primary surgery in five patients (42%) and for recurrence in seven (58%). No patient received prior radiation. Eleven patients (92%) had evidence of gross disease at radiotherapy. Eleven patients received 54 GyRBE; one received 50.4 GyRBE. Treatment toxicity was graded per the CTCAEv4.0. We estimated disease control and survival using the Kaplan-Meier product-limit method.

RESULTS

The median follow-up was 3.6 years (range, 1.8-10.6). The five-year actuarial rates of local control, progression-free survival, and overall survival were 100%, 92%, and 100%, respectively. One patient experienced an out-of-field recurrence in the spine superior to the irradiated region. No patients developed in-field recurrences. Following surgery and irradiation, one patient developed grade three spinal kyphosis and one patient developed grade 2 unilateral L5 neuropathy.

CONCLUSION

54 GyRBE to a limited volume appears effective for disseminated spinal MPE in both the primary and salvage settings, sparing children the toxicity of full craniospinal irradiation. Compared with historical reports, this approach using proton therapy improves the therapeutic ratio, resulting in minimal side effects and high rates of disease control.

Application evaluation of intraoperative ultrasound combined with neuro electrophysiological detection in the spinal cord glioma surgery

Objective

To observe application values of intraoperative ultrasound combined with neuro electrophysiological detection in the spinal cord glioma surgery.

Methods

Sixty patients with spinal cord glioma hospitalized in Baoding First Central Hospital from January 2016 to January 2018 were selected, randomly divided into two groups by the random number table method, with 30 cases of each group. PASS software was used to calculate the sample size. The control group was treated with traditional microsurgery, while the experimental group was treated with intraoperative ultrasound combined with neuro electrophysiological testing. The operation time, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative hospital stays, degree of tumor resection, clinical efficacy, recovery of neurological function, recovery of health status, quality of life score, and 2-year recurrence rate of the two groups of patients were observed and compared.

Results

The operation time of the experimental group was longer than that of the control group, and the postoperative hospital stay was shorter than that of the control group. The complete tumor resection rate, complete remission rate and postoperative scale scores of the experimental group were significantly higher than those of the control group, while the recurrence rate within two years was significantly lower than that of the control group. The above differences were statistically significant (p<0.05).

Conclusions

Intraoperative ultrasound combined with neuro-electrophysiological detection for spinal glioma has more adequate protection of nerve function, high clinical complete remission rate, more thorough tumor resection, and lower recurrence rate than traditional microsurgery, which is worthy of clinical application.

Adjunctive treatment of myxopapillary ependymoma

Myxopapillary ependymoma are rare tumors and optimal therapeutic strategy is remained controversial. The main treatments for myxopapillary ependymoma tumors include surgery and radiotherapy. Hence, the present study aimed to review adjuvant treatment of myxopapillary ependymoma, focusing on spinal myxopapillary ependymoma. The information sources of all articles were the English authoritative databases including PubMed, Web of science, Scopus, Science direct and Google scholar. In this review study, the keywords including adjuvant, treatment, myxopapillary and ependymoma were selected from MeSH medical library. Related articles were published from 2000 to 2020. Given radiation tolerance in the spinal cord is 10-15% lower than that of the brain, it also should be noted that with increased dose and scope of therapeutic field, the corresponding risks are increased, as well. Also, chemotherapy has never been used as the primary treatment approach. Radiotherapy's value is considered while involving with sensitive areas where chemotherapy is also recommended. Gross total resection is the preferred primary treatment. But the role of adjuvant radiotherapy is debated in different tumor and patient scenarios and no standard treatment strategy had been defined yet. The bottom line is that as long as cellular and molecular methods or gene therapy can be used in the treatment of myxopapillary ependymoma, all the studies confirm that the best treatment method is still wide surgical resection as much as possible.

Clinical Features, Treatments, and Prognostic Factors of Spinal Myxopapillary Ependymoma

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the clinical characteristics and factors affecting the prognosis of myxopapillary ependymoma (MPE).

METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 24 patients diagnosed with MPE who were surgically treated from January 2010 to January 2020 in the Department of Neurosurgery at Tongji Hospital (Tongji Medical School, Huazhong University of Science and Technology).

RESULTS

Among the 24 included patients, there were 13 male and 11 female patients. The ages of the included patients ranged from 15 to 59 years old, with an average age of 35.2 years old. The Preoperative McCormick grade included 20 cases (83.3%) that were grade II and 4 cases (16.7%) that were grade III. The follow-up times ranged from 6 months to 10 years, with an average of 50.9 months. The Postoperative McCormick grade included 7 cases (29.2%) that were grade I, 4 cases (16.7%) that were grade II, 12 cases (50%) that were grade III and 1 case (4.2%) that was grade IV. The 1-year, 2-year, and 10-year recurrence rate was 8.3%, 29.2%, 41.7%, respectively. The 1-year, 2-year, and 10-year survival rate was 100%, 100%, 95.8% respectively. χ² test revealed a significant difference between the degree of surgical resection (P = 0.012 < 0.05). The Kaplan-Meier method found that the degree of tumor resection (P = 0.031 < 0.05) was related to progression-free survival. The Cox analysis revealed there was no significant independent prognostic factors.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings suggest that the degree of surgical resection was a key factor that affected the prognosis and neurologic function of the included patients with MPE.

Pediatric ependymoma: A single-center experience from a developing country

Background

Ependymomas are the third most common pediatric central nervous system (CNS) tumors, accounting for 6-12% of brain tumors in children. Management of these tumors remains challenging and recurrence occurs in over 50% of cases, mainly when complete resection is not achieved before radiotherapy. The 5-year overall survival (OS) ranges from 39 to 64%, with a 5-year progression-free survival (PFS) rate of 23-45%. The study aimed to describe the OS and PFS rates of cases of pediatric ependymoma. It also aimed to evaluate the effects of different variables on disease outcomes. Variables examined included patient age, the extent of surgical resection, radiotherapy and chemotherapy delivered, the histopathological subtype of the tumor, primary tumor location, and extent of the disease at presentation. Last, the challenges that potentially compromise treatment outcomes in resource-limited countries were to be highlighted.

Methods

This is a retrospective cohort study, representing a single-center experience that included 47 pediatric patients treated at the National Cancer Institute, Cairo University, between January 2009 and December 2014.

Results

Median follow-up stood at 23.5 months (range: 2-77 months). The average 3-year OS and PFS rates were 43.7 and 43.3%, respectively.

Conclusion

The extent of surgical excision (maximal resection) and the adequacy of postoperative radiotherapy were the only two factors that had significantly affected the outcome. Understandably, treatment outcomes for ependymomas in developing countries still lag behind best reported outcomes, mainly due to inadequate surgical excision and postoperative radiotherapy.

Intracranial ependymomas: molecular insights and translation to treatment

Ependymomas are primary central nervous system tumors (CNS), arising within the posterior fossa and supratentorial regions of the brain, and in the spine. Over the last decade, research has resulted in substantial insights into the molecular characteristics of ependymomas, and significant advances have been made in the establishment of a molecular classification system. Ependymomas both within and between the three CNS regions in which they arise, have been shown to contain distinct genetic, epigenetic and cytogenic aberrations, with at least three molecularly distinct subgroups identified within each region. However, these advances in molecular characterization have yet to be translated into clinical practice, with the standard treatment for ependymoma patients largely unchanged. This review summarizes the advances made in the molecular characterization of intracranial ependymomas, outlines the progress made in establishing preclinical models and proposes strategies for moving toward subgroup-specific preclinical investigations and treatment.

EANO guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of ependymal tumors

Ependymal tumors are rare CNS tumors and may occur at any age, but their proportion among primary brain tumors is highest in children and young adults. Thus, the level of evidence of diagnostic and therapeutic interventions is higher in the pediatric compared with the adult patient population.The diagnosis and disease staging is performed by craniospinal MRI. Tumor classification is achieved by histological and molecular diagnostic assessment of tissue specimens according to the World Health Organization (WHO) classification 2016. Surgery is the crucial initial treatment in both children and adults. In pediatric patients with intracranial ependymomas of WHO grades II or III, surgery is followed by local radiotherapy regardless of residual tumor volume. In adults, radiotherapy is employed in patients with anaplastic ependymoma WHO grade III, and in case of incomplete resection of WHO grade II ependymoma. Chemotherapy alone is reserved for young children <12 months and for adults with recurrent disease when further surgery and irradiation are no longer feasible. A gross total resection is the mainstay of treatment in spinal ependymomas, and radiotherapy is reserved for incompletely resected tumors. Nine subgroups of ependymal tumors across different anatomical compartments (supratentorial, posterior fossa, spinal) and patient ages have been identified with distinct genetic and epigenetic alterations, and with distinct outcomes. These findings may lead to more precise diagnostic and prognostic assessments, molecular subgroup-adapted therapies, and eventually new recommendations pending validation in prospective studies.