Tanycytic ependymoma of filum terminale: Clinical characteristics and surgical outcomes

A Huge Calcified Supratentorial Ependymoma: A Case Report

Tanycytic ependymoma has been marked as Grade II by the World Health Organization (WHO), requiring considerable treatment. However, according to the fifth edition of the WHO Classification of Tumors of the Central Nervous System published in 2021, tanycytic ependymoma is no longer identified as a subtype of ependymoma. Herein, we offer an unusual case of a supratentorial ependymoma, previously tanycytic ependymoma. Which radiologically mimic pineal region tumors; however, they pathologically mimic meningiomas, schwannomas, medulloblastomas, or astroblastomas. A three-year-old girl presented to our neurosurgery department with sudden onset gait disturbance and balance impairment; we detected no additional neurologic deficit. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) revealed a giant, multilobulated, well-circumscribed right pineal mass, approximately 4.5 x 4.5 x 4.5 cm in size, crossing the midline and extending posteriorly, invading the pineal region. The initial diagnosis was a pineal region tumor. Following gross-total resection of the tumor, pathology reports showed tanycytic ependymoma. Postoperatively the patient's gait disturbance was improved, and there was no balance impairment. Follow-ups at three and six months, no sign of recurrence has been encountered. Our case demonstrates that supratentorial ependymomas may also occur in the pineal region and requires an accurate neuropathologic diagnosis. Early accurate diagnosis is essential; since those tumors may be related to a wide range of prognoses and necessitate different treatment modalities.