Complete Information on Ependymoma with Treatment and Prevention

Jun 6
08:36

2008

Juliet Cohen

Juliet Cohen

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Ependymomas are tumors that originate from the ependyma.

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 Ependymomas are an uncommon character of glioma. They produce from the ependymal cells which line the ventricles and from the key canal of the spinal cord. People of all ages can develop ependymomas,Complete Information on Ependymoma with Treatment and Prevention Articles including children. Ependymomas can be found in any part of the brain or spine, and are particularly common in the cerebellum in children. They are the second most common spinal cord tumour. Microscopically, ependymomas can appear different, called either standard or anaplastic ependymoma. These two types are treated the same and have approximately the same prognosis. A third type, which occurs at the base of the spine, called myxopapillary cauda equina ependymoma, tends to be much less malignant than any of the other forms.

Ependymomas of the backbone story for over half of all grownup spinal tumours. A fourth character, called ependymoblastoma, is a more competitive kind of this tumor and more hard to handle. Its diagnosis and administration are related to that of crude neuroectodermal tumor and is discussed in the part on crude neuroectodermal tumor. Ependymomas may occasionally spread from the brain to the spinal cord in the cerebrospinal fluid. Cerebrospinal fluid is the fluid that surrounds and protects the brain and spinal cord. An ependymoma in the cerebellum may lead to problems with coordination and balance. Ependymoma of the brain treated with complete resection and radiation to the tumor area can result in an approximately 50 percent cure rate. Spinal cord ependymomas are often easier to treat, and have an excellent prognosis.

Ependymomas are frequently sluggish growing tumours and any signs and symptoms normally produce slowly over many months. People of all ages can produce ependymomas, including children. Tumors at the base of the brain, in an area called the posterior fossa, are more common in children. The main symptoms occur due to increased pressure within the skull. This may be caused by a blockage in the ventricles of the brain that leads to a build-up of cerebral spinal fluid. Specific symptoms of ependymomas include swelling of the nerve at the back of the eye, rapid, jerky eye movements, neck pain and irritability. Ependymomas can grow in different parts of the brain, and symptoms may relate to the area of the brain that is affected. The symptoms of an ependymoma in the spinal cord will depend on which part of the spine is affected. Symptoms include neck or back pain, and sometimes numbness or weakness in the limbs and loss of bladder control.

The handling for an ependymoma depends on an amount of things, including your general health, the size and stance of the tumour, and whether it has scatter to new parts of the mind or spinal cord. If the pressure in the skull is raised, it is important to reduce it before any treatment is given for brain tumours. Steroid drugs may be given to reduce swelling around the tumour. Treatment can be given for different reasons and the potential benefits will vary depending upon the individual situation. Radiotherapy treatment uses high-energy rays to destroy the cancer cells and is often used after surgery to destroy any remaining malignant cells. Where possible, surgery is the first form of treatment for ependymoma. The aim of surgery is to remove as much of the tumour as possible without damaging the surrounding brain tissue.