INTRACRANIAL EPENDYMOMAS IN CHILDREN

Abstract

Ependymomas are malignant glial tumors of the central nervous system. Although they are recognized
in all age groups, they are more frequent in children, accounting for between 5 and 10% of all pediatric intracranial
tumors. Due to its aggressive nature and fairly frequent occurrence in the pediatric population, our study was
conducted to specify the epidemiological, clinical, and paraclinical profile as well as to evaluate the therapeutic
means and results and the follow-up in 24 children collected in the neurosurgery department, CHU IBN ROCHD
over 12 years (from January 2012 to December 2023). The age of our patients ranged from 1.5 to 17 years, with a
mean age of 8.29 years, of which 10 were girls and 14 were boys. Headaches associated with nausea and vomiting
were the most frequent symptoms. Time to consultation ranged from 1 to 7 months, with an average of 4 months.
Radiologically, an MRI was performed on all patients with infratentorial localization (FCP). The most frequent
histological type was WHO grade III ependymoma. Surgery, and more specifically, complete excision, is the
cornerstone of ependymoma treatment. In our series, 13 children underwent adjuvant external radiotherapy, with a
14-week mean time between surgery and radiotherapy. 54.16% of the children in our series received
chemotherapy. In terms of evolution, we have 50% of our patients alive, 56.33% in complete remission after 3
years, 16.66% deceased, and 25% lost to follow-up. Childhood ependymoma is a pathology in the throes of
change. The new anatomomolecular classification opens up unprecedented prospects for a detailed understanding
of therapeutic strategy. The mainstay of treatment is complete surgery, and the role of radiotherapy remains
essential in children